Short Range Forecast Discussion NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD 354 PM EST Sun Dec 22 2013 Valid 00Z Mon Dec 23 2013 - 00Z Wed Dec 25 2013 ...Heavy rain and possible flooding from the east-central Gulf Coast into the Mid-Atlantic region through Monday followed by much colder temperatures for Christmas Eve... ...Another round of snow and ice expected for northern New England on Monday... ...Moderate snow for the higher elevations of the Northwest with lighter snow showers into the Northern Plains... The expansive storm system which has been affecting the central and eastern U.S. is beginning to wind down as it moves east, but not before bringing one last round of heavy rain to the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic tonight. As an upper level trough over the central U.S. shifts eastward tonight, precipitation is expected to fill in to the west of an ongoing swath of moderate rain impacting Alabama/Georgia to western Virginia. The entire axis will slowly shift east with the slow moving cold front, and the potential for flooding will be present from the Florida panhandle through the northern Mid-Atlantic region within embedded thunderstorms. As this axis of precipitation reaches northern New England, temperatures at the surface will remain below freezing north of a strong stationary boundary extending roughly east-west across New England, supportive of freezing rain for Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine. Additional light snow accumulations are also expected for northern Maine through tomorrow. The weather pattern to start off the week will be turning much quieter in the wake of the eastern U.S. storm system. There are no major storms to speak of, but the Northwest will stay unsettled with the approach of a Pacific front late tonight. Coastal and valley rain with mountain snow is forecast through Tuesday with the higher elevations picking up a good six to twelve inches. High temperatures on Christmas Eve will be near to below average for the eastern half of the nation as a strong ridge of high pressure builds in. The West will see near to above average temperatures. For Christmas itself, temperatures will return to near average for much of the entire lower 48, with the exception of the Northeast and the Upper Mississippi Valley which will remain about 10 to 20 degrees colder than late December normals. Otto Graphics available at www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/basicwx/basicwx_wbg.php