Short Range Forecast Discussion NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD 346 AM EST Sun Dec 14 2014 Valid 12Z Sun Dec 14 2014 - 12Z Tue Dec 16 2014 ...Snow...ice...and severe weather will be possible with a storm system developing in the Central U.S.... ...Another round of rain and mountain snows expected for drought-stricken California... The cold front that brought widespread snow showers to the Rockies on Saturday will press out into the Great Plains early this week. A light wintry mix of snow...sleet...freezing rain...and rain will be possible with a surface wave along the northern portion of the boundary...which is expected to track from the Dakotas into northern Minnesota on Sunday. Farther south along the boundary...a potent piece of energy aloft will help intensify a surface low in the lee of the Colorado Rockies. The strengthening storm system is expected to steadily track towards the Middle Mississippi Valley on Sunday before lifting towards the Upper Great Lakes on Monday. Gulf moisture being pulled into the storm will fuel widespread precipitation across the Plains and Midwest. Heavy rains and potentially severe thunderstorms will be possible ahead of the system's cold front pushing through the Southern Plains and Lower Mississippi Valley...while a swath of accumulating snows is expected from the Central High Plains to the Minnesota Arrowhead. In-between the snow and heavy rains...a narrow transition zone of sleet and freezing rain will be possible. The next Pacific system approaching the West coast will begin impacting California by Sunday night. Precipitation totals will not be as significant as the heavy rain event late last week...but drought-stricken California should still receive some beneficial rains and mountain snows. Gerhardt Graphics available at www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/basicwx/basicwx_wbg.php