Short Range Forecast Discussion NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD 316 AM EST Tue Jan 28 2014 Valid 12Z Tue Jan 28 2014 - 12Z Thu Jan 30 2014 ...Rare winter storm expected to impact the Gulf coast, Southeast and southern Mid-Atlantic... ...Heavy snow and significant icing possible for parts of the Southeast and southern Mid-Atlantic... ...Precipitation making a return to the Northwest and Great Basin... A strong cold front, representing the leading edge of the latest surge of arctic air to sweep through the central and eastern U.S., continues to push across the Southeast this morning, while dropping south into the northern Gulf of Mexico. As this cold air moves into place, moisture drawn back north of the boundary ahead of an upper level system digging into the lower Mississippi valley will set the stage for an anomalous winter storm that will extend from the central Gulf Coast to the southern Mid-Atlantic coast beginning later today. A wintry mix is possible as far south as southern LA, extending along the Gulf coast into northern FL and northeastward along the Southeast coast into the Carolinas. Significant icing appears quite probable across portions of southern GA into coastal SC and southeastern NC. A swath of light to moderate snows is likely further to the north and west, with heavy snows possible across northeastern NC into the Hampton Roads region of VA. With the exception of some lingering showers across the FL peninsula, precipitation is expected to slide off of the coast on Wed. Light precipitation will continue to spread across the Northwest this morning ahead of a dissipating frontal system. A more robust system is expected to follow, bringing better organized precipitation into the region Tue night. A wintry mix is likely from the Cascades eastward across portions of central and eastern WA and OR into northern and central ID. This frontal system will advance inland on Wed, with precipitation spreading further south and east into northern CA, the northern Great Basin and Rockies. Pereira Graphics available at www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/basicwx/basicwx_wbg.php