Short Range Forecast Discussion NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD 301 AM EST Wed Jan 13 2016 Valid 12Z Wed Jan 13 2016 - 12Z Fri Jan 15 2016 ...Heavy snow will continue today for portions of Maine and downwind of the Great Lakes... ...Below average temperatures expected today for much of the eastern U.S... ...Mountain snow and valley rain expected for portions of the western U.S... A deepening low pressure system off the coast of Maine will move into New Brunswick today. Snow on the west side of the low will persist across central and northern Maine into this afternoon, before finally tapering off during the late afternoon or early evening. Storm total snowfall amounts across Maine will range from 5 to 15 inches when the storm ends, with locally higher amounts possible. Farther west, lake effect snow will continue through today and into Thursday downwind of the Great Lakes, before gradually tapering off late on Thursday. Winds will be gusty across the entire region today, with wind gusts to 35 mph at times. Cold temperatures will affect much of the eastern U.S. today, with high temperatures forecast to be 10 to 20 degrees below average for many areas. Temperatures will moderate on Thursday with many areas returning to slightly above average temperatures. A Pacific low pressure system will bring rain and mountain snow to much of the West Coast and the interior northwestern U.S. today and tonight. Heavy snow is possible for the Cascades and the Sierras, with snowfall amounts exceeding a foot possible. The system will move into the central/northern Rockies on Thursday, bringing snow to those regions. By Thursday night into Friday, this system will emerge into the plains, and moisture streaming northward will result in scattered showers and thunderstorms across portions of the southern/central plains. Farther north, areas of snow, sleet, or freezing rain will be possible across portions of the northern plains, Upper Midwest, and Great Lakes. Additionally, by late Thursday, an area of low pressure developing in the northern Gulf of Mexico will result in more widespread showers and thunderstorms along the Gulf Coast and into the southeastern U.S. By Thursday afternoon/night, another system will move into the Pacific Northwest, spreading more rain and mountain snow into the region. This system will quickly more inland by Friday morning, spreading more snow into the Intermountain West. Ryan Graphics available at www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/basicwx/basicwx_wbg.php