Short Range Forecast Discussion NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD 455 PM EDT Sat Oct 17 2015 Valid 00Z Sun Oct 18 2015 - 00Z Tue Oct 20 2015 ***Cold and dry for much of the eastern U.S.*** ***Unsettled weather for parts of the western U.S.*** After the passage of a strong cold front Friday, a much cooler airmass has settled in across much of the northern and eastern U.S. This is indeed the coldest air of the season for many locations, and widespread freeze warnings are in effect from the Great Lakes region to the Ohio Valley and parts of the Mid-Atlantic. High temperatures through Monday are expected to be about 10 to 20 degrees below normal with readings in the 40s and 50s expected, and 60s farther to the south. Some scattered showers will be possible at times over the Northeast U.S. through Sunday, with even a few snow showers possible at the highest elevations. For the western U.S., another upper level trough and upper level low are forecast to affect the weather across much of the western U.S. for the remainder of the weekend. Numerous showers and a few thunderstorms are likely, with the greatest coverage during the afternoon and evening hours. The heaviest activity is likely from central Idaho to northern Arizona, where 1 to 2 inches of rainfall will be possible. Hamrick Graphics available at www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/basicwx/basicwx_wbg.php