Short Range Forecast Discussion NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD 340 AM EST Sun Dec 29 2013 Valid 12Z Sun Dec 29 2013 - 12Z Tue Dec 31 2013 ...Widespread moderate to heavy rains to continue across the East... ...Locally heavy snows possible across northern New England... ...Temperatures turning sharply colder across the central U.S.... Ongoing moderate to heavy precipitation falling across the TN and lower OH valleys and Southeast will continue to spread to the north today into the Mid-Atlantic states and Northeast, as a developing area of low pressure over the northern Gulf of Mexico tracks rapidly to the north through the eastern U.S. Strong southerly winds across the eastern Gulf of Mexico and along the Atlantic coast will draw an abundance of moisture up along the Eastern Seaboard - fueling the moderate to heavy precipitation threat across the region today. Upstate NY to northern New England is forecast to be primary exception to what is forecast to be mainly a rain event. A wintry mix, with the potential for locally heavy snows and significant icing, is expected across those highlighted portions of the Northeast this evening. Refer to the WPC Winter Weather product suite for further details. Drying conditions are expected across much of the East Mon morning as the low spins into the Canadian Maritimes. Little to no significant precipitation is expected to accompany an arctic front dropping through the central U.S. However, sharply colder temperatures and gusty northwest winds will continue to follow the front as it pushes south and east across the plains and Midwest. Well below normal temperatures are expected today across much of the plains and upper Midwest today. As the anomalously colder air shifts east into the MS valley, temperatures are expected to moderate across the central plains on Mon. Meanwhile, below normal temperatures will persist for a second day across the northern plains and upper Midwest. Across the West seasonal to above average temperatures will continue into the early part of next week. Conditions will remain dry as well across the majority of the region, except across the Northwest and northern Rockies where scattered snow showers are possible on Mon. Pereira Graphics available at www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/basicwx/basicwx_wbg.php