The U.S. gas population weight HDD forecast stays cold with high national heating demand through next week. The outlook is moderately cold Jan. 17-23 and the extended range for February is much warmer due to an expected mild month in the East.

The 12Z GFS projects an evolving storm later this week in the northwest Gulf of Mexico region to travel northeastward and intensify south and southeast of New England by Saturday morning. At that time, the 12Z GFS forecasts a 963 MB low pressure area.

Heavy snow, including blizzard conditions in the Central U.S., are shifting eastward. Heavy snow shifts east of the Appalachians late tonight. A large swath of freezing rain will extend eastward across Kentucky tonight. Axis of the heavy snow in the Mid-Atlantic region shifts slightly south and now includes Washington, DC to Central Virginia. Cold winds follow the storm causing blowing and drifting.

A large area of snow develops across the central Great Plains Saturday night extending to the Missouri Valley Sunday morning and across the southern half of the Ohio Valley on Sunday. Snow extends to the Mid-Atlantic States Sunday night and Monday. A large swath of 6-12 in. of snow is likely with high spots in the 12-18 in. range in Missouri.