Short Range Forecast Discussion NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD 308 PM EST Tue Dec 01 2015 Valid 00Z Wed Dec 02 2015 - 00Z Fri Dec 04 2015 ...Snows continuing tonight across portions of the northern plains and upper Midwest... ...Locally heavy rains across portions of the Southeast, southern Appalachians and Mid-Atlantic states... ...Rain changing to snow across portions of northern New England on Thursday... ...Precipitation returning to the northwestern U.S. today... In association with a sprawling area of low pressure currently centered over southern Minnesota, expect generally light precipitation to continue to fall across portions of the northern Great Plains and upper Midwest into the late evening and overnight hours. Precipitation will diminish from west to east across the region on Wednesday as the system gradually weakens and drifts east through the upper Great Lakes region. Meanwhile, moist southwesterly winds will support widespread precipitation along and ahead of a frontal boundary extending from the Northeast back into the western Gulf of Mexico. Locally heavy rains are possible, particularly near and ahead of a surface low that is forecast to develop along the front and track northeast from near the southern Appalachians early Wednesday to the New England coast by early Thursday. Cold air filling in behind this system will result in rain changing to snow, possibly resulting in some locally heavy accumulations across portions of northern New England. Across the western U.S., a pair of frontal systems will impact the Northwest and northern Rockies. The initial system will impact the region this evening into the overnight hours as it moves inland and weakens. The next frontal band, a more robust system, is expected approach the coast late Wednesday, moving inland on Thursday. These systems may produce some locally heavy amounts along the coastal ranges of Washington, Oregon and northern California. Pereira Graphics available at www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/basicwx/basicwx_wbg.php