Short Range Forecast Discussion NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD 329 AM EST Mon Feb 17 2014 Valid 12Z Mon Feb 17 2014 - 12Z Wed Feb 19 2014 ***Wintry weather for the Ohio Valley and Mid-Atlantic Monday night*** ***Warming trend for areas east of the Rockies this week*** ***Rain and mountain snow continues for the Pacific Northwest*** A zonal flow pattern across the continental U.S. will allow for a quick progression of weak weather disturbances across the nation for the first half of the work week. The bitterly cold weather that has plagued much of the northern U.S. appears to be retreating northward into Canada with more seasonal conditions expected over the next few days. Temperatures are expected to warm to above average levels for late February from the Central Plains to the East Coast as upper level ridging develops. Southern Texas, which should remain within the warm sector of systems passing by to its north, is expected to be the warmest nationwide with highs expected well into the 80s. Over the Southern Plains, the next surface low is forecast to take shape and move towards the lower Great Lakes by Monday night. This is expected to bring mainly light to moderate snow from the Upper Midwest to the Great Lakes and northern Mid-Atlantic States, with showers likely for portions of the lower to mid Mississippi Valley and the Deep South. A mixture of light sleet and freezing rain is possible from northern Missouri to near the Ohio River. Out West, sustained moisture flow and frontal passages from the Pacific are expected to keep conditions unsettled across the Northwest and the northern Continental Divide with widespread light to moderate precipitation through Tuesday. Most of the precipitation should be in the form of rain in lower elevations and snowfall for the higher elevations. Hamrick/Roth Graphics available at www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/basicwx/basicwx_wbg.php