Short Range Forecast Discussion NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD 409 AM EDT Mon Mar 17 2014 Valid 12Z Mon Mar 17 2014 - 12Z Wed Mar 19 2014 ***Significant winter storm exiting the East Coast*** ***Showers and thunderstorms over Florida*** ***Warm over the Desert Southwest and cold over the Northern U.S.*** An unusually late winter storm is hammering the Mid-Atlantic with at least six inches of snow for parts of West Virginia, Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, and southern New Jersey, with a mixture of wintry precipitation farther to the south. This is in response to moisture over-running the cold air mass that is situated to the north of a stationary front near the Southeast Coast. Winter storm warnings are currently in effect for these areas. Farther to the south, numerous showers and thunderstorms can be expected over Florida and into the Deep South in the warm sector of the surface low. A few strong to severe thunderstorms are possible, but the worst of the severe weather threat with this system has now passed. Elsewhere across the continental U.S., a cold front will be approaching the Pacific Northwest late in the period with a round of showers and mountain snow. Over the Plains, a developing storm system will bring another round of snow to the central and northern Rockies with some showers over parts of the western High Plains. In the temperature department, temperatures will be colder than average over the northern tier of the country, and the warmest readings will be enjoyed over the Desert Southwest and into Florida. Hamrick Graphics available at www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/basicwx/basicwx_wbg.php