Short Range Forecast Discussion NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD 340 PM EST Mon Dec 16 2013 Valid 00Z Tue Dec 17 2013 - 00Z Thu Dec 19 2013 ***Lake effect snowfall downwind of the Great Lakes*** ***Warming trend for Eastern U.S. by Thursday*** ***Quiet weather pattern elsewhere*** After a period of active winter weather with heavy snow across interior portions of New England, the low pressure system responsible for that snow has now moved well offshore. Farther to the west across the Great Lakes and Upper Midwest, scattered snow showers are likely through Tuesday owing to both lake-effect processes and a stationary front across the Upper Midwest and Great Lakes. Scattered snow showers are also possible across the mountains of the Pacific Northwest and the Northern Rockies as shortwave energy helps generate some modest lift in the atmosphere. Elsewhere across the continental U.S., a relatively quiet weather pattern can be expected through the middle of the week with a surface ridge of high pressure over the West and another ridge over the Deep South. After a cold start to the work week for much of the Central and Eastern parts of the U.S., warmer temperatures are expected by the end of the week. Many locations could see high returning to the 50s and 60s in a few days. D. Hamrick Graphics available at www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/basicwx/basicwx_wbg.php