Short Range Forecast Discussion NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD 342 PM EST Tue Jan 27 2015 Valid 00Z Wed Jan 28 2015 - 00Z Fri Jan 30 2015 ...Powerful winter storm to continue impacting the New England... ...Well above normal temperatures to prevail over the Central U.S... A powerful winter storm continues to impact New England with very heavy snowfall and strong winds. Blizzard conditions are ongoing across portions of coastal New England with heavy snow and wind gusts in excess of 35 mph. These conditions are likely to begin winding down this evening in southern New England but persisting into tomorrow morning across down east Maine. Snowfall totals could near 3 feet in some locations with blowing and drifting snow continuing to impact visibility and roads even after snowfall comes to an end tomorrow. Persistent downsloping flow in the lee of the Rocky Mountain chain will provide ample warmth to the Great Plains. Temperatures will be well above normal tomorrow before a cold front brings some changes to the central U.S. by Thursday. Temperatures will briefly return to near normal but warmth will return to the northern Plains with more downsloping flow by the end of the period. A closed upper low previously over the subtropical East Pacific has evolved into an open wave while lifting into southern California. This has spread a broad region of light to moderate rain to the Desert Southwest which is well needed given the persistent drought concerns. Throughout the period, expect this shield of precipitation to advance north and east spreading rainfall into the Central Great Basin and eventually into the Central Rockies. The subtropical origin of the system should keep much of the region as rain except for the higher elevations of the Wyoming Tetons and sections of Wasatch. Elsewhere, an arctic boundary sinking southward from central Canada will spread a band of light to moderate snow to the Upper Midwest/Great Lakes region Wednesday evening into the following day. Some freezing rain will be possible from southern Minnesota to northern Ohio overnight Wednesday into Thursday morning. Krekeler/Rubin-Oster Graphics available at www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/basicwx/basicwx_wbg.php