Short Range Forecast Discussion NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD 249 PM EST Mon Nov 10 2014 Valid 00Z Tue Nov 11 2014 - 00Z Thu Nov 13 2014 ***Arctic blast over much of the United States this week*** ***First major snowstorm of the year for the Upper Midwest*** ***Remaining pleasant for the West Coast and Florida*** To say that the weather has turned sharply colder across the north-central U.S. would be an understatement! An impressive cold front is delivering a massive surface high straight from the Arctic region of northern Canada and is resulting in bitterly cold temperatures, especially by November standards. Over the next couple of days, expect daytime highs to remain well below freezing from the northern Rockies to the Upper Midwest, and as far south as the Texas Panhandle. Numerous record lows are likely as this arctic high settles southward. A developing surface low along said front is bringing the first major winter storm from the Dakotas to the northern Great Lakes. With plenty of moisture being lifted above the frontal zone in the increasingly colder airmass, widespread moderate to locally heavy snow is likely, with some areas receiving in excess of a foot of snow before the event is over. The snow that accumulates on the ground will likely remain for a while as temperatures remain below freezing through the rest of the week. On a more positive note, mostly sunny skies and pleasant temperatures can be expected for the West Coast and into the Desert Southwest. The continental divide should keep the bitterly cold weather away from these regions. Temperatures will also be pleasant for Florida, although some showers and storms are expected for eastern Florida on Monday evening before drier conditions arrive for Tuesday. D. Hamrick Graphics available at www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/basicwx/basicwx_wbg.php