Short Range Forecast Discussion NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD 356 PM EST Thu Dec 05 2013 Valid 00Z Fri Dec 06 2013 - 00Z Sun Dec 08 2013 ...Major ice storm expected from the Central Texas to the Ohio Valley... ...Heavy snowfall expected from Oklahoma to Lower Great Lakes... ...Very cold airmass overspreading the West and Central U.S. with temperatures 10 to 30 degrees below normal... A classic ice storm pattern is taking shape from the Southern Plains to the Ohio Valley. A strong cold front surging south and east will be overrun by mild return flow off the Gulf of Mexico, leading to a prolonged period of freezing rain and sleet from central Texas to the Ohio valley. Precipitation is expected to develop in response to a strengthening upper-level jet that remains well behind the surface cold front. As a result, the majority of the precipitation will fall into the cold sector of the storm, where significant icing is expected. The northern portion of the precipitation will fall in the form of snow, with a band of moderate snowfall expected from Oklahoma to Central Ohio. The cold front will slowly push eastward with precipitation spreading into the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic. In wake of the cold front pushing through the eastern U.S., a very cold airmass will overspread the central and western U.S. Temperatures will be 10 to 30 degrees below normal for the next few days. High temperatures will remain below zero for some parts of the northern Plains. A reinforcing shot of cold air will arrive in the Pacific Northwest toward the end of the period. Snowfall will be possible even within coastal Washington and Oregon. Krekeler Graphics available at www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/basicwx/basicwx_wbg.php