Weekly Weather Watch: Wednesday, December 4th, 2024
A strong cold front will sweep across the Great Lakes today and into the Northeastern US and Canadian Maritimes on Thursday. Expect intense bursts of heavy snowfall and gusty winds. Remaining behind this front is freezing rain and heavy snowfall in parts of Canada. Here are other items to keep track of in this week’s Weather Watch.
Also, Members, you should have received your monthly forecast on the 1st. That subscriber content can be accessed here: December Outlook
HEADLINERS:
Arctic cold will spread across the Northeast and Eastern US.
Heavy rainfall from the west-central Gulf Coast to the Appalachians this weekend to early next week.
Slight risk of much below normal temperatures across portions of the Southern Plains and Lower Mississippi Valley, Thu, Dec 12.
Slight risk of heavy precipitation across portions of the Northeast, Thu, Dec 12.
Slight risk of heavy precipitation across portions of the Pacific Northwest and the northern half of California, Thu-Mon, Dec 12-16.
Slight risk of heavy snow across portions of the Interior Northeast, Thu, Dec 12.
Slight risk of heavy snow across portions of the Cascades, Klamath, and Sierra Nevadas, Thu-Mon, Dec 12-16.
Slight risk of heavy snow across portions of the Northern and Central Rockies, Thu-Mon, Dec 12-16.
Slight risk of high winds across portions of the Great Lakes and Northeast, Thu, Dec 12.
Slight risk of high winds across much of the northwestern quadrant of the CONUS extending into the Northern and Central Plains, Thu-Mon, Dec 12-16.
ON THE RADAR:
IN THE GAUGES:
GRAB A RULER:
RECORDS MADE TO BE BROKEN:
ARE YOU CIRRUS?!
On this date in weather history
1902 Brutally cold temperatures of -42.7 did not deter firefighters in Dawson, Yukon from attacking a fire at the Empire Hotel. Despite intense heat caused by the fire, many firefighters' nosetips were frozen and fire hoses flowing at full pressure were frozen in 2 hours.
As we close out 2025 and ring in the new year, the weather pattern stays anything but quiet. A multi-day lake-effect snow event is burying areas downwind of Lakes Erie and Ontario, where over 3 feet of snow could fall in the most persistent bands—creating whiteout squalls and treacherous travel through New Year's Day. Meanwhile, Arctic air is spilling deep into the Southeast, sending temperatures below freezing as far south as Florida, with frost and freeze alerts in place. On the other side of the country, a Pacific storm system will bring rounds of heavy rain and a flash flood threat to Southern California, especially around Los Angeles, starting late New Year's Eve. Elsewhere, a couple of fast-moving clippers will spread freezing rain and snow to Alberta, then snow across the Midwest, Ohio Valley, and into New England, while a developing storm may bring soaking rain and thunderstorms from the Deep South to the Southeast Coast by the weekend. Even Northern California faces an atmospheric river event late week, setting the stage for an active and disruptive start to 2026.