Short Range Forecast Discussion NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD 233 PM EST Sat Nov 8 2014 Valid 00Z Sun Nov 9 2014 - 00Z Tue Nov 11 2014 ***Cold weather pattern developing for most of the country*** ***Snow likely for the Great Lakes and northern Plains*** ***Unsettled weather for Florida*** Given the amplifying ridge in the West and trough in the East, much of the nation east of the Rockies is expected to see a major pattern change by the beginning of the work week. After a cold start across much of the eastern U.S., a gradual and brief warm-up is expected through the end of this forecast period as the air mass modifies. The nicest weather across the continental U.S. through Monday is expected from the Desert Southwest to the Deep South, with mostly sunny days and highs mainly in the 60s and 70s. Over the Great Plains and Upper Midwest, a stronger cold front moving southward from Canada will begin to deliver much colder weather and winter-like conditions. The coldest weather of the season is expected to arrive by early next week for the northern Plains and Montana as a massive arctic surface high begins moving southward. Significant snowfall is increasingly likely for parts of the northern Rockies and northern Plains as this front moves southward, where winter storm watches and winter weather advisories are currently in effect. Elsewhere across the country, expect a few lake effect rain and/or snow showers downwind of the Great Lakes through the rest of this weekend with colder winds blowing across the warmer lake waters. Another area of light to locally moderate snow is likely across Minnesota and Wisconsin on Sunday. This should be a relatively minor event in terms of snowfall accumulations. Across the Florida peninsula, a frontal boundary will keep periods of rain and occasional thunderstorms around through Sunday afternoon. D. Hamrick Graphics available at www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/basicwx/basicwx_wbg.php