Short Range Forecast Discussion NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD 327 AM EST Sun Feb 1 2015 Valid 12Z Sun Feb 1 2015 - 12Z Tue Feb 3 2015 ***Strong storm system moving across the central and eastern U.S.*** ***Widespread snow from the Ohio Valley to New England*** The main weather story across the continental U.S. will be a strengthening surface low pressure system tracking from the central Plains to New England over the next couple of days. This will be a potent winter storm from the Midwest to the Northeast U.S., including the northern Ohio Valley, lower Great Lakes, and north of the Mason-Dixon line in the Mid-Atlantic region. Numerous winter storm warnings are in effect from eastern Nebraska to the greater Boston area, where snowfall amounts on the order of 6 to 12 inches can be expected, with locally higher amounts. To the south of the surface low track, widespread rainy weather is expected along and ahead of the trailing cold front across much of the Deep South, Tennessee Valley, and into the Carolinas and Virginia. A few thunderstorms will also be possible near the Gulf Coast. Elsewhere across the continental U.S., expect dry conditions to continue for most of California through Monday. Rain and snow chances increase for the Pacific Northwest by Sunday as a weak cold front approaches the coast. Most of the northern U.S. will continue to have below-average temperatures for this weekend. Hamrick Graphics available at www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/basicwx/basicwx_wbg.php