Short Range Forecast Discussion NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD 323 AM EDT Thu Sep 26 2013 Valid 12Z Thu Sep 26 2013 - 12Z Sat Sep 28 2013 ***Active weather pattern over the Rockies*** ***Nice weather continues for the Northeastern U.S.*** ***Another storm system entering the Pacific Northwest*** The main weather maker for the continental U.S. will be a storm system traversing the Rocky Mountains and the High Plains for Thursday and Friday. A well defined cold front extending from Manitoba to the Four Corners region will usher in a colder airmass from western Canada. As a result, significant snowfall is likely for the higher elevations of Montana, Idaho, and Wyoming through Thursday night, and winter weather advisories and winter storm warnings are in effect for some of these areas. Patchy areas of rain are expected for the lower elevations. Farther to the north from Virginia to New England, an autumnal and high quality airmass is forecast to remain in place over the next couple of days. This surface ridge of high pressure will bring continued fall-like weather with highs in the 60s and 70s, and lows in the 40s and 50s, along with lower humidity. The weather over the Southeast should gradually improve through the end of the week as the surface low along the stationary front moves out to sea. Elsewhere, another round of rain and high mountain snow is forecast for the Pacific Northwest with another cold front and shortwave aloft approaching the region. Towards the weekend, this moisture should make its way toward the Northern Rockies. Warm and humid weather is expected to continue for Texas and the Deep South. D. Hamrick Graphics available at www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/basicwx/basicwx_wbg.php