Short Range Forecast Discussion NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD 312 AM EST Thu Jan 29 2015 Valid 12Z Thu Jan 29 2015 - 12Z Sat Jan 31 2015 ***More wintry weather from Great Lakes to the Northeast*** ***Much colder weather arriving to the Great Plains states*** ***Moisture increasing for the southwestern U.S.*** After a brief respite in the weather for the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic region, another round of snow is forecast from the Upper Great Lakes to New England on Thursday and moving offshore on Friday. A mix of rain and snow is likely from Kentucky to Washington DC since temperatures will be more marginal in these areas. This event will be considerably weaker than its monster predecessor a few days ago, with most locations getting less than six inches of snow. The exception will likely be over Maine, where greater snowfall amounts are possible. After widespread high temperatures in the 70s and even low 80s over the central and southern Plains earlier this week, expect much cooler temperatures to arrive as a strong surface high slides down from Canada behind a cold front and expands over much of the Central U.S. to close out the work week. Highs will be closer to average for this time of year, along with gusty winds. Conditions will become increasingly wet over the Southwest and Four Corners region for the next few days while an elongated upper trough edges inland over northern Mexico and strong low-level winds advect increasing Pacific moisture to these areas. This moisture will fuel widespread moderate to locally heavy precipitation, with the greatest amounts expected for Arizona and New Mexico. Accumulating snow is expected for the higher elevations of Utah, Colorado, and New Mexico, and a mix of rain and snow for the higher elevations of Arizona. Hamrick Graphics available at www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/basicwx/basicwx_wbg.php