Short Range Forecast Discussion NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD 1038 PM EST Wed Dec 24 2014 Valid 12Z Thu Dec 25 2014 - 12Z Sat Dec 27 2014 ***Improving weather for the eastern U.S.*** ***Snow for the Intermountain West and Rocky Mountains*** ***Colder weather arriving to much of the U.S. by Saturday*** The major storm system that has affected the eastern U.S. over the past couple of days is forecast to exit northward into Canada by Christmas afternoon, and the trailing cold front will also move off the East Coast that afternoon. There will still be some lingering showers near the eastern Great Lakes and northern New England through Christmas Day, but these should also dissipate by early Friday. The airmass coming in behind this cold front is not significantly colder, so mild December weather is forecast to continue for the next few days. Over the western U.S., another storm system will bring widespread light snow from the Pacific Northwest to the western High Plains through Friday morning. Heavier snowfall is expected to occur over the higher mountains of Utah, Idaho, Wyoming, and Colorado, where winter storm warnings are currently in effect. The cold front that accompanies this wintry weather will bring noticeably colder air to much of the western and central states, and this will eventually end the relatively mild weather over the eastern U.S. just beyond the short-range forecast period. Hamrick Graphics available at www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/basicwx/basicwx_wbg.php