Short Range Forecast Discussion NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD 448 PM EDT Sat Oct 5 2013 Valid 00Z Sun Oct 6 2013 - 00Z Tue Oct 8 2013 ***Winter storm abating over the Northern Plains*** ***Severe weather for parts of the Midwest and Ohio Valley*** ***Tropical Storm Karen is heading for the Central Gulf Coast*** ***Hot and humid for the East Coast states on Sunday*** The first significant winter storm of the season is now tapering off over the Northern Plains as the comma head area of precipitation with the surface low moves farther east, where temperatures are warmer. A cold rain can be expected from the eastern Dakotas to Minnesota and southern Canada. However, the blizzard has delivered impressive snowfall amounts to western South Dakota and eastern Wyoming. Another facet of this strong frontal system is the threat of severe weather over parts of the Ohio Valley this weekend. These storms are forecast to develop ahead of the advancing cold front. Over the Deep South states, attention is focused on Tropical Storm Karen and its track towards the Central Gulf Coast. Heavy rainfall and some gusty winds are likely close to where this system makes landfall, and this system should continue slowly weakening over the next two days. The National Hurricane Center has additional information and recommended preparedness actions. Elsewhere, borderline hot conditions remain in the forecast for much of the Eastern U.S. for the remainder of the weekend, especially by October standards. Highs in the middle 80s to near 90 degrees are likely for many areas along the East Coast before welcomed relief arrives early next week. In the Pacific Northwest, a few showers may approach the Washington coastline by Sunday night and into Monday, with the vast majority of the rainfall remaining over British Columbia. In southern California, hot and very dry Santa Ana winds are creating an environment favorable for wildfires, and these conditions should improve by the end of the weekend. D. Hamrick Graphics available at www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/basicwx/basicwx_wbg.php