Short Range Forecast Discussion NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD 330 PM EST Tue Mar 4 2014 Valid 00Z Wed Mar 5 2014 - 00Z Fri Mar 7 2014 ***Very cold weather continues over the Upper Midwest*** ***Improving weather for the East Coast*** ***Widespread showers and snow for the Western U.S.*** The extremely cold temperatures continue like a broken record across the northern tier of the country, which has been the case for much of the winter. Temperatures will be slowly moderating through the middle of the work week, however they will remain well below average. Overall, a ridge over the West and a trough over the East has resulted in sustained northerly flow in the lower atmosphere over this region, and warmer temperatures over the Southwest U.S. Over the Gulf Coast and Southeast U.S., a wave of low pressure developing along a stalled out front over the northern Gulf of Mexico will likely result in over-running precipitation over the Deep South and into the Southeast states as moisture flows northward and over a layer of colder air near the surface. Thunderstorms will be possible over Florida and southern Alabama and Georgia where instability will be greatest. The Western U.S. will remain active over the next two days with sustained westerly flow from the Pacific Ocean along with a stationary surface front from the Washington coast to Montana. Periods of rain and mountain snow can be expected, with some locally concentrated areas of moderate to heavy snow where forcing is best. Snow levels are expected to rise some through Wednesday with snow confined to the highest elevations of the Pacific Northwest and the Northern Rockies. D. Hamrick Graphics available at www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/basicwx/basicwx_wbg.php