Short Range Forecast Discussion NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD 333 PM EST Tue Dec 23 2025 Valid 00Z Wed Dec 24 2025 - 00Z Fri Dec 26 2025 ...Strong atmospheric river brings heavy rain, snow, and wind to California through Friday... ...Moderate to heavy snow continues over New England today; freezing rain possible along the Northern Tier Thursday... ...Unseasonable warmth forecast for much of the Lower 48 through Christmas Day... Across the Lower 48, much of our weather pattern remains dominated by an anomalous upper-ridge anchored over the Nation's Heartland and a highly amplified trough upstream over the Eastern Pacific. This configuration is expected to persist through the end of the work week, in turn supporting dangerous atmospheric river conditions across California through Friday. To address the heavy rainfall forecast first, the threat of particularly heavy rainfall is expected to increase over Southern California (including the Los Angeles metro) late tonight ahead of a deepening low pressure wave. By tomorrow morning, a rare High Risk of Excessive Rainfall is in effect for Southern California, where widespread 4-7" rainfall totals (locally upwards of 9") is expected over an 18 hour time period. Remember, WPC High Risk days are a BIG DEAL: 80% of all flood related damages and 30% of all flood related fatalities occur in High Risk areas. Users in these areas are encouraged to remain vigilant as landslides, rockfalls, and mudslides are also anticipa