Short Range Forecast Discussion NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD 441 AM EDT Wed Apr 23 2014 Valid 12Z Wed Apr 23 2014 - 12Z Fri Apr 25 2014 ...A spring snowstorm is expected to affect areas of the Upper Midwest/Great Lakes... ...Severe weather will be possible the next couple of days across the Southern/Central Plains and into the Arklatex... ...Unsettled conditions to persist over northern New England... An active period of weather is expected this week as the upper pattern is of high amplitude with dynamic systems crossing the country. To begin the forecast, a ridge is centered in the middle of the nation while upper troughs are featured on either side. The broad trough tracking through the Western U.S. has been responsible for high elevation snows across the Intermountain West early this morning. As the system continues to march eastward it will begin to encounter a marked increase in moisture content which should spread vast amounts of precipitation along and ahead of the cold front. Not all of the precipitation will be of the liquid variety as a spring snowstorm is forecast over Northeastern Minnesota eastward into extreme Northern Wisconsin and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. The WPC winter weather desk suggests amounts may approach the 8 to 12 inch range given the anomalous moisture this system will feed off of. While it will feel like winter across the northern tier of the country, it should definitely be more spring-like over the Southern/Central Plains where severe weather is likely today. Strong vertical lift along the approaching front coupled with sufficient instability and moisture will aid in the development of thunderstorms, particularly in the vicinity of the cold front and dryline. It appears the biggest threat is large hail although low-level wind profiles appear favorable for a few tornadoes. For more information related to the severe weather aspect of this storm, please visit the Storm Prediction Center website at www.spc.noaa.gov. While one powerful system affects the Central U.S., another upper trough reloads across the West Coast maintaining unsettled weather throughout the remainder of the work week. Periods of onshore flow with the approach of each individual impulse will help spread an expansive area of precipitation to the Pacific Northwest and Upper Intermountain West. The usual upslope effects should augment amounts across the favored terrain with snow being elevation dependent. The highest forecast amounts are over the Bitterroots where up to a foot will be possible through Friday morning. Elsewhere, a developing closed low off the New England coast will keep cool and damp conditions in place during the next couple of days. The surface low strengthening offshore will help enhance the moisture transport toward the coastline. Surface temperatures appear to be cold enough across interior Maine to support light snowfall accumulations while a cold rain will be commonplace elsewhere. Rubin-Oster Graphics available at www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/basicwx/basicwx_wbg.php