Short Range Forecast Discussion NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD 319 AM EST Sun Jan 10 2016 Valid 12Z Sun Jan 10 2016 - 12Z Tue Jan 12 2016 ...Heavy rain and strong winds possible for portions of the Northeast... ...Heavy snow possible today for portions of Michigan... ...Frigid temperatures to affect the northern plains and Upper Midwest... A deepening low pressure system will move across the lower Great Lakes this morning and into Quebec by this evening. Rain and scattered areas of thunderstorms will affect much of the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast today ahead of this system. Heavy rainfall amounts of 1 to 2 inches, with locally higher amounts, are possible across the Northeast. Cold air in place across northern Maine may result in areas of light snow, sleet, or freezing rain this morning, before changing over to all rain by afternoon. This storm system will also bring strong and gusty winds to portions of the Northeast. Wind gusts in excess of 50 mph are possible across portions of Maine as well as the Tug Hill Plateau. North and west of the surface low, snow will affect areas from the upper Great Lakes to portions of the Ohio valley and Appalachians today. Heavy snow is possible across portions of the Michigan Lower Peninsula, where storm total snowfall accumulations of 4 to 8 inches are forecast. Widespread precipitation will begin to taper off across portions of the Great Lakes and the Northeast tonight, but lake effect snow will linger in the typical areas downwind of the Great Lakes. Heavy lake effect snow is possible downwind of Lake Ontario, where 1 to 2 feet of snow are possible through Tuesday morning. A fast-moving "clipper" low pressure system will move into the northern plains and Upper Great Lakes on Monday, and into the lower Great Lakes, Mid-Atlantic, and Northeast on Tuesday. This system will bring scattered areas of snow as well as enhancing lake effect snowfall. The system will also bring a reinforcing round of cold air in its wake. Temperatures today will be 10 to 20 degrees below average across much of the Upper Midwest and Mississippi River valley, with morning low temperatures well below zero for many locations. Temperatures will warm slightly on Monday ahead of the incoming "clipper" system, before decreasing to well below average once again on Tuesday. Snow showers will be relatively sparse in coverage across the interior western U.S. today. By Monday, a Pacific frontal system will approach the West Coast, spreading rain and high elevation snows into the region. Ryan Graphics available at www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/basicwx/basicwx_wbg.php