Short Range Forecast Discussion NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD 337 AM EST Sat Dec 28 2013 Valid 12Z Sat Dec 28 2013 - 12Z Mon Dec 30 2013 ...Widespread rains with heavy amounts possible across the Southeast to the Mid-Atlantic region... ...Temperatures to turn sharply colder over the central U.S.... Surface low pressure is forecast to develop over the northern Gulf of Mexico by this evening and track northward across the FL panhandle into the Southeast overnight. From there the system is expected to track rapidly to the northeast, reaching the Carolinas by Sunday morning and then Long Island and southern New England by Sunday evening. Strong southerly winds are expected to draw an abundance of moisture from across the Gulf Mexico into the Southeast and then into the TN-lower OH valley and Mid-Atlantic region, fueling widespread rains across the area, with locally heavy amounts possible later today into Sunday. Precipitation is expected to advance steadily from the northern mid Atlantic to New England Sunday afternoon-evening before exiting into the Canadian Maritimes by early Monday. The cold air in place ahead of this system is forecast to rapidly retreat, making this primarily a rain event for most regions except across northern NY-New England where a wintry mix, with the potential for some locally heavy snow and significant ice accumulations, is expected. Refer to the WPC winter weather products for further details. Further to the west, an Arctic front is forecast to plunge through the nation's midsection, delivering little significant precipitation, but turning temperatures sharply colder across much of the plains and upper Midwest by Sunday. Across the western U.S., dry conditions, with seasonal to above average temperatures, are expected to persist through the weekend. Pereira Graphics available at www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/basicwx/basicwx_wbg.php