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.
- Calmer weather for most of the country compared to the past few days.
- After this weekend, the east returns to near-normal temperatures; colder than average in New England and across the western Northern Plains.
- Still not looking great for a white Christmas in the East south of interior New England or the Adirondacks. Ample snow in the higher elevations of the West.
Outlook for Friday – Sunday 17-19 December:
— Low pressure develops in the Ohio River Valley Friday night, then brings snow, sleet and freezing rain to upstate NY and interior New England Saturday and Saturday night.
— West coast storm brings heavy rain and mountain snows to WA and OR Saturday and Sunday
— Rain for much of the Southeast on Sunday.
— By Sunday, above average temperatures retreat to the Southern Plains and Southwest. The rest of the country has at or below normal temperatures.
Outlook for Monday – Wednesday 20-22 December:
— Rain and higher elevation snow for the West Coast from central CA northwards on Monday.
— On Tuesday a developing low pressure system in the Gulf of Mexico brings heavy rain to the eastern Gulf and FL. More rain for northern CA north of San Francisco.
— Widespread rain and high elevations snows for the West Coast on Wednesday; snow moves into the Inter-mountain West and the Northern Rockies. Rain ending over the Southeast.
Here are the temperature, precipitation and snowfall outlooks for Friday – Wednesday 17-22 December
Average temperature difference relative to normal, Friday – Tuesday 17-21 December 
Percentage of precipitation, relative to normal, through Wednesday 22 December. Red and brown is drier than normal; green and blue is wetter than normal. 
Snowfall amounts through Wednesday 22 December. Some snow for interior New England; the west coast mountains remain snowy.
Here is the temperature and precipitation outlooks for Tuesday – Saturday 21-25 December
Here is the temperature and precipitation outlooks for Thursday – Wednesday 23-29 December
