Short Range Forecast Discussion NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD 240 AM EST Fri Dec 16 2022 Valid 12Z Fri Dec 16 2022 - 12Z Sun Dec 18 2022 ...Light snow and blizzard conditions gradually diminish across the northern Plains today... ...Heavy snow to impact portions of the Interior Northeast through the beginning of the weekend... ...Well below average temperatures enter the north-central U.S. by Sunday... A large and significant winter storm over the northern Plains and Upper Midwest is expected to finally weaken today after producing several consecutive days of heavy snow and gusty winds across the region. Light snow should gradually come to an end by late this afternoon, with only scattered snow showers remaining throughout the Upper Midwest and Great Lakes by tonight. Continuing wind gusts up to 50 mph will create the potential for blizzard conditions this morning over the Dakotas and eastern Montana. Near zero visibility and drifting snow over roadways could make travel treacherous. Farther east, a separate low pressure system moving up the northern Mid-Atlantic coastline this morning is forecast to strengthen and slowly push northeastward through the weekend. As it does so, heavy snow is likely throughout the Interior Northeast and New England as Atlantic moisture gets funneled into the cold airmass in place over the region. Up to two feet of heavy wet snow is possible over the higher terrain of the Adirondacks, as well as the Green and White Mountains. High snowfall rates at times could lead to quickly deteriorating travel conditions. Winter Storm Warnings are in effect and stretch from northeast Pennsylvania to Maine. Rain is expected to be the main precipitation type for the major I-95 cities closer to the coast, which could be heavy at times. Otherwise, gusty winds along the coast could reach up to 50 mph and produce scattered power outages, as well as rough surf and coastal flooding. As this system begins to pull away from New England on Saturday, strong west-southwesterly winds are forecast to develop and create an environment ripe for heavy lake effect snow bands, especially downwind of Lake Erie and Lake Ontario. A narrow corridor of two to three feet of lake effect snow is possible over the Tug Hill Plateau, with amounts closer to a foot expected near Buffalo, New York. Lake Effect Snow Warnings have been issued. Elsewhere, a lingering frontal boundary across southern Florida should focus shower and thunderstorm chances over the southern half of the Sunshine State through Saturday before an approaching upper-level trough widens rain chances to much of the Peninsula on Sunday. In the opposite corner of the Lower 48, a strong cold front dropping south from British Columbia could spawn light to moderate snow from the Pacific Northwest to Northern Rockies. Snow levels will likely be rather low behind the arctic front, which could lead to light accumulations into coastal and more populated regions of western Washington. This cold front will also be responsible for ushering in well below average temperatures to the northern Plains on Sunday. Highs are anticipated to only reach the single digits, with lows below zero. Snell Graphics available at https://www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/basicwx/basicwx_ndfd.php