Short Range Forecast Discussion NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD 349 PM EST Mon Dec 30 2013 Valid 00Z Tue Dec 31 2013 - 00Z Thu Jan 02 2014 ...Continued bitter cold across the Northern Plains and Upper Midwest... ...Cold and wet weather to spread eastward along the Gulf Coast... ...Light snow to moderate snow expected to impact parts of the Central and Northern Plains into the Midwest... The upper level pattern is expected to remain similar over the U.S. for the next few days which will keep temperatures across the north-central U.S. well below average into the middle of the week. High temperatures for the northeastern half of the Dakotas into Minnesota will remain in the single digits or below zero which is a good 20 to 30 degrees below average for this time of year. Wind chill values will be dangerously low, but with high pressure largely in control at the surface, wind speeds are not expected to be a major factor in reducing wind chill temperatures below actual observed temperatures. Down across the southern U.S., an upper level disturbance currently over northern Mexico is keeping locations across southern Texas cold and wet as warmer air aloft overruns the cold air in place. The upper level disturbance is forecast to weaken and shift eastward through the middle of the week as additional energy aloft amplifies southward into the Central and Southern Plains. Tuesday should feature lighter rain across the western Gulf Coast, but heavier rain is expected to return Wednesday night along the upper Texas coast into coastal Louisiana as the upper pattern amplifies. Any substantial moisture, and therefore heavy precipitation potential is held down over the Gulf of Mexico, along and south of a frontal boundary. Therefore over the majority of the country, the pattern will be rather quiet, at least for the next couple of days. Northwesterly flow aloft will be in place from western Canada into the Plains with weak impulses forcing scattered snow showers from Montana and Wyoming, east southeastward into the Midwest where light snowfall accumulations will be possible. Heavier snow can be expected due to lake enhancements over the eastern U.P. of Michigan and east of lakes Erie and Ontario but these should occur on a localized basis where banding sets up. Otto Graphics available at www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/basicwx/basicwx_wbg.php