Short Range Forecast Discussion NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD 311 AM EDT Tue Mar 18 2014 Valid 12Z Tue Mar 18 2014 - 12Z Thu Mar 20 2014 ***Improving weather for the East Coast starting on Tuesday*** ***Spring-like storm system over the Central Plains*** ***Cold for the Northeast and warm over Texas and Florida*** The wave of low pressure that was responsible for the widespread accumulating snowfall over the Mid-Atlantic on Monday has moved offshore. However, another wave of low pressure along the same frontal boundary situated offshore will bring light freezing rain and freezing drizzle over parts of North Carolina and Virginia through early Tuesday, with winter weather advisories in effect. Farther to the south over Florida and the coastal Southeast U.S., widespread showers and occasional thunderstorms are likely through Tuesday as a shortwave disturbance passes overhead along with a cold frontal passage. Over the Central U.S., a developing surface low is forecast to track from Kansas to the Great Lakes by Wednesday night. Unlike the previous system, the cold front from this low will bring in an airmass from the Northern Pacific instead of northern Canada, so no Arctic invasion is expected with the passage of this front. However, this system will have enough cold air and moisture to create a band of moderate snow from the Upper Midwest to Lake Superior, and a wintry mix over parts of Michigan and into the interior Northeast states. A few showers can be expected farther to the south in the warm sector of the low. Elsewhere across the continental U.S., cold weather is expected to persist through the middle of the week over the Rockies and New England, and also for the Northern Plains and Upper Midwest. Spring-like warmth will continue to be enjoyed by many in the Desert Southwest, Texas, and Florida. Hamrick Graphics available at www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/basicwx/basicwx_wbg.php