Short Range Forecast Discussion NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD 336 PM EST Fri Jan 08 2016 Valid 00Z Sat Jan 09 2016 - 00Z Mon Jan 11 2016 ...Heavy snow possible for parts of the Mogollon Rim and Central/Southern Rockies... ...Severe thunderstorms possible today/tonight across portions of the western Gulf Coast... ...Snow expected for portions of the Upper Midwest and Mid-Mississippi valley... The higher terrain across the Southwest to portions of the southern and central Rockies will have snow as an upper-level low moves through the region. The areas most likely to have the highest snowfall will be along the Mogollon Rim and the Rockies in southern Colorado and northern New Mexico. Accumulations in these areas could reach one foot. An approaching Pacific front will bring rain and higher elevation snow to the western states tonight into Saturday. Anomalous moisture feeding into this system will yield higher rainfall amounts for northern California and southwestern Oregon - 3 day totals are forecast near 2 inches. Precipitation along the West Coast should begin to taper off later on Saturday as the system moves inland and weakens. The eastern half of the CONUS will have scattered to widespread precipitation through the weekend as an extensive frontal system moves north and east. A low pressure system moving across the Midwest and into the Upper Great Lakes will bring snow to the area. North of the surface low track, generally light snowfall accumulations of 1 to 3 inches are possible. Another surface low and associated cold front will move through the Gulf states lift into the Tennessee Valley as it deepens. A plume moisture will stream northward from the Gulf of Mexico and will increase rainfall amounts for much of the Southeast and lower/middle Mississippi Valley. North of the surface low, a band of moderate to heavy snow is forecast, with 3 to 6 inches of snow possible for portions of the mid-Mississippi valley. The snow will spread into the Great Lakes Saturday night into Sunday, where 4 to 8 inch accumulations are possible. Showers and thunderstorms are expected tonight and into Saturday along the Gulf coast on the warm side of the system. The Storm Prediction Center is forecasting an enhanced risk of severe thunderstorms for portions of the western Gulf Coast, primarily along the Texas and Louisiana border. Showers and thunderstorms will spread east throughout the day on Saturday from the central/eastern Gulf Coast into the Ohio valley. The Mid-Atlantic will have rain as the low pressure system advances into the Ohio Valley. A mix of snow, sleet, and freezing rain is possible across portions of northern New England Saturday and Saturday night as colder air remains in place at the lower levels of the atmosphere as precipitation moves in. Ryan/Campbell Graphics available at www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/basicwx/basicwx_wbg.php