Short Range Forecast Discussion NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD 243 PM EST Sat Dec 14 2013 Valid 00Z Sun Dec 15 2013 - 00Z Tue Dec 17 2013 ***Widespread snow for the Northeast U.S. through early Sunday*** ***Lake effect snowfall downwind of the Great Lakes*** ***Quiet weather pattern elsewhere*** A relatively complex low pressure system is currently undergoing a transformation Saturday afternoon, with the Ohio Valley surface low dissipating and a coastal low developing near the New England coast. This is transferring energy to the coastal system, which is expected to result in widespread snow from Pennsylvania to Maine, and rain farther south into Virginia and the Southeast states. Many places are under winter storm warnings through tonight with expected snowfall totals on the order of 6 to 12 inches expected. Gusty winds are expected near the coast on Sunday as this system intensifies and moves into the Canadian Maritimes. Farther to the west across the Great Lakes and Upper Midwest, scattered snow showers are likely through Monday owing to both lake-effect processes and a warm front crossing the Dakotas. Temperatures are forecast to remain below normal across the northern tier states with daytime highs below freezing. Elsewhere across the continental U.S., a relatively quiet weather pattern can be expected through the rest of the weekend and into Monday with a surface ridge of high pressure over the West and another ridge over the Deep South. D. Hamrick Graphics available at www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/basicwx/basicwx_wbg.php