Short Range Forecast Discussion NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD 243 AM EST Fri Dec 18 2015 Valid 12Z Fri Dec 18 2015 - 12Z Sun Dec 20 2015 ...Active storm track continues to impact the Pacific Northwest and Intermountain West regions... ...Turning colder for the eastern U.S. along with lake effect snow showers... The active weather pattern of storms impacting the Pacific Northwest and Intermountain West is forecast to persist through Sunday. The first storm system currently affecting the West Coast is expected to reach the Great Basin and northern Rockies by Saturday afternoon, with widespread areas of snow and heavy rain near the coast. By Saturday evening, another frontal system will be approaching the Pacific Northwest and will bring yet another round of precipitation to the region, including gusty winds. The strong cold front clearing the East Coast on Friday morning will bring a quick return to reality for mid-December. After multiple days of unseasonably warm temperatures, expect highs to be near or even slightly below average through Saturday for the eastern U.S. as a cold surface high settles in behind the front. In addition, there will be enough cold air surging across the Great Lakes to generate areas of lake effect snow through Saturday afternoon, with the heaviest snow expected downwind of Lake Erie and Lake Ontario. The cold snap should be short-lived with milder air returning by Sunday as the winds turn more southerly and the surface high moves offshore. Hamrick Graphics available at www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/basicwx/basicwx_wbg.php