Short Range Forecast Discussion NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD 323 AM EST Tue Jan 12 2016 Valid 12Z Tue Jan 12 2016 - 12Z Thu Jan 14 2016 ...Heavy lake effect snow and gusty winds expected downwind of Lakes Erie and Ontario... ...Heavy snow possible for portions of Maine... ...Rain, mountain snow, and high winds expected for portions of the West Coast... A deepening and fast-moving low pressure system will bring snow to the Great Lakes, Ohio valley, Northeast, and portions of the Mid-Atlantic states today. The heaviest snows will be downwind of the Great Lakes, as cold air rushing across the relatively warm lake waters results in the formation of lake effect snow bands. Lake effect snows will persist into Wednesday and Wednesday night even as the low pressure system moves away from the region. The heaviest lake effect snows are forecast to occur downwind of Lakes Erie and Ontario, where 1 to 2 feet of additional snow is possible through Wednesday morning. Additionally, strong gusty winds in excess of 40 mph will be possible in the more intense lake effect snow bands, reducing visibilities at times. Heavy snow will also be possible across much of Maine as the surface low deepens off the coast Tuesday night, enhancing snowfall northwest of the low. Snowfall amounts of 6 to 12 inches are possible across much of Maine, with locally higher amounts possible. In the wake of the low pressure system an arctic air mass will spread eastward. Temperatures today will be 15 to 25 degrees below average across portions of the Midwest and Upper Great Lakes. The cold air will move east on Wednesday, with temperatures 10 to 20 degrees below average across portions of the Ohio valley, Mid-Atlantic, and Northeast. A Pacific low pressure system will bring rain and mountain snow to the Northwest today through Wednesday, with snow spreading across the northern Intermountain region on Wednesday. Heavy snow is possible for the Sierras, with 10 to 20 inches of snow possible through Wednesday morning. This system will also bring high winds to portions of northern California and southern Oregon, with wind gusts in excess of 60 mph possible for some areas. Ryan Graphics available at www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/basicwx/basicwx_wbg.php