Short Range Forecast Discussion NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD 354 AM EDT Wed Oct 29 2014 Valid 12Z Wed Oct 29 2014 - 12Z Fri Oct 31 2014 ***Colder weather arriving for the Eastern U.S.*** ***Arctic surface high settles southward into U.S.*** ***Periods of rain for the Pacific Northwest*** The cold front that has been steadily advancing eastward across the eastern half of the country will slowly exit the East Coast on Wednesday afternoon. A reality check in the form of colder temperatures will now be the case after highs in the 70s and 80s on Tuesday, so it will feel more like late October. Along and behind the frontal boundary, expect a band of weakening showers with a few thunderstorms to develop from the Deep South to the Mid-Atlantic region. Across the Great Lakes Region, cold air advection behind the cold front and northerly flow around the departing surface low over Ontario will make it feel more like November. A cold rain, with some snow mixing in at times, is likely with the shower activity that develops from Minnesota to northern Michigan on Wednesday. Later in the week, another surge of cold weather will arrive to the northern Plains and Upper Midwest as an Arctic surface high oozes southward from Canada. The Pacific Northwest can expect occasional rain and gusty winds through Thursday as onshore flow and a couple of cold fronts affect the region. Given the warmer nature of these systems, snow is only expected for the highest elevations of the Cascades and northern Rockies, and also into British Columbia. Hamrick Graphics available at www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/basicwx/basicwx_wbg.php