Short Range Forecast Discussion NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD 309 AM EST Tue Nov 24 2015 Valid 12Z Tue Nov 24 2015 - 12Z Thu Nov 26 2015 ***Turning colder and snowy for much of the West*** ***Showers and thunderstorms developing over the Plains*** ***Moderating temperatures for the eastern U.S.*** An active weather pattern will be developing across the western half of the U.S. over the next couple of days. An upper level low and surface low combined with an Arctic cold front sinking southward from Canada will set the stage for wintry weather conditions from the Cascades to much of the Intermountain West. Snowfall accumulations in excess of 6 inches appear likely for many of the higher elevations, and winter storm warnings and winter weather advisories are already in effect for those areas. Gusty winds can also be anticipated for the coastal areas. For the central U.S., a well-defined frontal boundary is expected to become established from the Texas Panhandle to the Great Lakes as the arctic boundary sinks southward. Moisture flowing northward ahead of the front from the Gulf of Mexico will allow for the development of showers and thunderstorms from Texas to the Upper Midwest by Wednesday evening and extending into Thanksgiving. The cold Canadian surface high currently over the eastern third of the nation is expected to gradually move offshore by the middle of the week. After some of the coldest air of the season for many areas, temperatures are forecast to moderate towards the Thanksgiving Day holiday and even reach levels that are slightly above seasonal averages. This same high pressure area is also expected to result in windy conditions along the Southeast Coast and Florida as the pressure gradient becomes stronger. Hamrick Graphics available at www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/basicwx/basicwx_wbg.php