Short Range Forecast Discussion NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD 338 AM EST Fri Jan 30 2015 Valid 12Z Fri Jan 30 2015 - 12Z Sun Feb 1 2015 ***Snow for the Great Lakes and into New England*** ***Much colder weather arriving to the Great Plains states*** ***Developing low pressure system over the central U.S.*** A quick-moving disturbance across the Northeast U.S. is producing light to moderate snow from Pennsylvania to Maine. Once the surface low emerges over the waters of the Atlantic Ocean, intensification is forecast to occur and this will likely result in a heavier band of snow developing over Maine, New Hampshire, and eastern Massachusetts. 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, much cooler temperatures have arrived 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 southern Plains for the next few days while an elongated shortwave trough moves 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 on Friday. 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. By the weekend, snow is expected to emerge over the Midwest states as the surface low develops over the central Plains, and rain farther to the south. Hamrick Graphics available at www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/basicwx/basicwx_wbg.php