Short Range Forecast Discussion NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD 1257 PM EST Mon Dec 15 2014 Valid 00Z Tue Dec 16 2014 - 00Z Thu Dec 18 2014 ***Occluded surface low tracking across the Midwest states*** ***Mild weather for the East Coast early this week*** ***Active weather pattern continues for the West Coast*** A wrapped up and occluded surface low over the Midwest will take a steady track towards the Great Lakes by late Tuesday. Moisture advecting northward from the Gulf of Mexico will provide the moisture necessary for shower and thunderstorm development from the Gulf Coast to the Ohio Valley. On the backside of the system, temperatures will be low enough to support snow and a wintry mix on the northwestern edge of the precipitation shield. Temperatures will be above normal for the East Coast states before the cold front passes through. Out West, a series of Pacific systems moving inland from the Pacific Northwest to California will keep badly needed rainfall in the forecast through the middle of the week. These systems will definitely be weaker than the major system last week, but potent enough to generate periods of moderate to locally heavy rain and mountain snow for the higher elevations. Hamrick Graphics available at www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/basicwx/basicwx_wbg.php