Short Range Forecast Discussion NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD 350 PM EST Fri Jan 31 2014 Valid 00Z Sat Feb 1 2014 - 00Z Mon Feb 3 2014 ***Rain and mountain snow returns to the West*** ***Another storm system organizing over the Central U.S.*** ***Severe cold along the East Coast is abating*** After a lengthy period of dry and warm weather across California and into the Inter-Mountain West, a pattern change has brought a welcomed return to badly needed rain and mountain snow. A cold front from the Pacific, along with shortwave energy aloft, is allowing for the development of snow showers over the Central Rockies, and rain showers for the lower elevations. Another round of precipitation is expected for California on Sunday as another system approaches the coast. Upper level energy from this same disturbance is expected to result in the cyclogenesis of a surface low over the Southern Plains by Saturday. Unlike the recent clipper systems from Canada, this low will be able to tap moisture from the Gulf of Mexico and advect it northward into Arkansas and surrounding states, and then into the Ohio Valley and Great Lakes. Snow is likely by this weekend north of the Interstate 70 corridor, and a wintry mix south of there to roughly the Ohio River. Elsewhere, the impressive cold weather along the East Coast has given way to much milder temperatures that everyone can enjoy. This will allow the snow cover and ice-covered waterways to thaw some before the next storm system arrives by Sunday night. It will remain very cold over the Upper Midwest through the weekend. Hamrick Graphics available at www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/basicwx/basicwx_wbg.php