Short Range Forecast Discussion NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD 357 AM EST Tue Dec 01 2015 Valid 12Z Tue Dec 01 2015 - 12Z Thu Dec 03 2015 ...Widespread snow possible for the Upper Midwest... ...Heavy rain possible for portions of the Tennessee Valley, the Central Appalachians and the Mid-Atlantic... A vast area spanning from the Northern Plains to the Upper Midwest will be impacted by a winter storm over the next couple of days as the associated low and cold front slowly treks across the central U.S. Numerous winter storm warnings and advisories are in effect for Nebraska, the Dakotas , Iowa, Minnesota and Wisconsin. Accumulations of 2 to 6 inches will be common for this region, with locally higher amounts possible. Rain is expected to develop along the cold front from parts of the Upper Great Lakes to the Lower Mississippi Valley/Western Gulf Coast and will move eastward as the front progresses. Periods of heavy rain may occur for portions of the Tennessee Valley and Central Appalachians. Flash flooding will be possible for these areas over the next few days. Please refer to the Excessive Rainfall Outlooks for additional information. This system will merge with the low pressure off the Mid-Atlantic Coast and associated front extending from the Southern Mid-Atlantic into the Ohio Valley. The system will lift northward to Southern New England Coast by Wednesday. Rain is forecast to accompany this front as well. A couple for fronts will move toward the Pacific Northwest, but will dissipate before making landfall. Rain initially will be limited to the Olympic Peninsula, however this evening it will begin to move inland to parts of the Northern Intermountain Region by Wednesday. Snow will spread across the higher elevations of the Cascades tonight and into Wednesday; picking up intensity Thursday into Friday, as well as, expanding eastward in the Northern Rockies. Campbell Graphics available at www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/basicwx/basicwx_wbg.php