Extended outlooks are more general in nature than the daily short term forecasts. Beyond a week, there is often significant uncertainty in the location and intensity of specific weather events. I will note where there is less, or greater, confidence than normal in these extended outlooks.
For more information, check out the latest weather animations.
Here is the latest short term weather forecast.
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Check out the graphics to see who wakes up to a white Christmas!
Moderate disruption to Christmas travel on Christmas Eve with strong winds over much of the Central U.S. and a developing storm in the Northeast.
- Rain and higher elevations snows will be nearly continual over the West Coast, Great Basin, Inter-mountain West and Northern and Central Rockies Wednesday – Sunday.
- Rain for the Southeast on Tuesday.
- Be prepared for another strong wind event across much of the Central U.S. Friday the 24th.
- Expect a Christmas Eve and Christmas Day storm for the Northeast with rain, snow, sleet and freezing rain. Moderate snow accumulations possible for the Adirondacks and northern New England.
- Becoming very cold across the Northern Plains Christmas Day and the 26th.
Outlook for Tuesday – Thursday 21-23 December:
— On Tuesday, west coast storm impacted the central and northern CA coast, as well as OR and WA.
— Also on Tuesday, expect rain for the Southeast from a coastal storm.
— On Wednesday, the east coast storm produces snow for northern New England.
— On Wednesday and Thursday, the west coast will see lower elevation rains and higher elevation snows. Snow pushes into the Inter-mountain West and Northern Rockies.
— Rain moves into the Southwest Thursday and Thursday night.
Outlook for Friday – Sunday 24-26 December:
— On Friday, storm develops in the lee of the CO Rockies, and quickly moves toward the western Great Lakes. This storm will create another strong wind event for much of the central U.S., although not as strong as the winds earlier this month.
— Rain and snow continues for the West Coast and Inter-mountain West.
— Expect rain, freezing rain, sleet and snow in the Northeast Christmas Eve and Christmas Day in the Northeast. Significant snows likely confined to the Adirondacks and northern New England.
— On Sunday, coastal rain and mountain snows continue for the West Coast, Great Basin, Inter-mountain West, and Northern and Central Rockies.
— Expect very cold temperatures over the Northern Plains Christmas Day and Sunday. High temperatures at or below zero degree F.
— Above normal temperatures remain locked in over Texas and the Southern Plains.
Here are the Christmas Morning Snowpack, temperature, precipitation and snowfall outlooks for Tuesday – Sunday 21-26 December
Expected amount of snow expected on the ground Christmas Morning 2021
Average temperature difference, relative to normal, Tuesday – Saturday 21-25 December 
Percentage of precipitation, relative to normal, through Sunday 26 December. Red and brown is drier than normal; green and blue is wetter than normal. 
Snowfall amounts through Sunday 26 December. The snows continue for the West Coast mountains and Northern Rockies. 
Expected wind gusts Friday afternoon 24 December. Gusts 35-55 mph will be widespread.
Here is the temperature and precipitation outlooks for Saturday – Wednesday 25-29 December
Here is the temperature and precipitation outlooks for Monday – Sunday 27 December 2021 – 2 January 2022
