Short Range Forecast Discussion NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD 336 PM EST Mon Mar 3 2014 Valid 00Z Tue Mar 4 2014 - 00Z Thu Mar 6 2014 ***Severe cold continues over the Upper Midwest*** ***Improving weather for the East Coast*** ***Widespread showers and snow for the Western U.S.*** The extremely cold temperatures continue like a broken record across the Northern Plains, Upper Midwest, and Great Lakes, which has been the case for much of the winter. A sprawling surface high that originated over the Northwest Territories of Canada, is now setting up shop over the central and northern parts of the country. Temperatures will be slowly moderating through the middle of the work week, however they will remain well below average The widespread wintry weather that affected much of the Central and Eastern U.S. is now moving off the East Coast, with some light snow and sleet remaining for southern Virginia and into North Carolina through Monday evening. Things will be quieter for Tuesday. Record low temperatures are possible behind this system as lows plummet into the single digits and teens from the Ohio Valley to the Mid-Atlantic! The Western U.S. will remain active over the next two days with sustained westerly flow from the Pacific Ocean along with a stationary surface front from the Washington coast to Colorado. Mainly scattered showers and mountain snow showers can be expected, with some locally concentrated areas of moderate to heavy snow where forcing is best. D. Hamrick Graphics available at www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/basicwx/basicwx_wbg.php