Short Range Forecast Discussion NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD 355 AM EST Sun Dec 15 2013 Valid 12Z Sun Dec 15 2013 - 12Z Tue Dec 17 2013 ...Winter storm will hit northern New England with heavy snows while it races towards the Canadian Maritimes on Sunday... Conditions should begin to clear out behind a cold front pushing off the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic coasts early Sunday; However...the storm that brought widespread winter weather to the Central and Eastern U.S. will pack one last punch across the Northeast on Sunday...where a deepening coastal low will hit much of the region with moderate to heavy snows as it races towards the Canadian Maritimes. Warm Atlantic moisture getting pulled onshore should change snow over to freezing rain and rain along the coast...but widespread accumulating snows are expected just inland of the transition zone. The heavy snows should lift north of Maine by Sunday evening...and any lingering snow showers downwind of the Lower Great Lakes and along the Central to Northern Appalachians should begin to diminish on Monday. Weather over the Upper Mississippi Valley and Great Lakes should stay active the next few days...first with a closed vortex sliding through the region Sunday...followed by energy diving down from Canada late Monday. Both of these systems will trigger widespread light snow showers...with enhanced amounts downwind of the lakes. Across the Western U.S....upper ridging in place should keep conditions quiet west of the divide. An exception to this will be over the Pacific Northwest and Northern Rockies...where a weakening Pacific front will help produce light shower activity as it moves inland on Sunday. Gerhardt Graphics available at www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/basicwx/basicwx_wbg.php