Short Range Forecast Discussion...correction NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD 708 AM EST Fri Jan 15 2016 Valid 12Z Fri Jan 15 2016 - 12Z Sun Jan 17 2016 ...Snow showers to continue from the Northern Plains to the Upper Great Lakes with very cold air arriving by Saturday... ...Heavy rainfall likely for portions of the Southeast and Carolina coasts through tonight... ...Rain and mountain snow expected to impact the Northwestern U.S. through the weekend... The Upper Midwest and Great Lakes region will be impacted by snow as a low pressure system tracks across the northern states over the next couple of days. A blast of arctic air will surge in behind the front- maximum temperatures will hover near 0 to -10 this weekend from the Dakotas to northern Illinois. Light snow is forecast for areas to the north of the low from northern Minnesota to northern portions of Lower Michigan. As the low pushes into southeast Canada early Saturday, westerly to northwesterly winds on the backside may aid in some lake effect snow showers downwind of lakes Superior and Michigan. Most locations may observe total snowfall accumulations of a couple of inches. However, areas just downwind of Lake Superior could receive 6 to 12 inches by Saturday as the low passes south of the lake. The cold front associated with this low will drop through the Central U.S. and pass through the eastern U.S. Rain is expected along and ahead of this front from the lower Mississippi Valley to the Northeast. The Southeast and Mid-Atlantic states will also have rain and thunderstorms this weekend as a developing surface low approaching Florida tracks northeastward. Amounts will generally total around 1 to 2 inches from the Central Gulf Coast to the Southeast and Carolina coastlines. The low pressure center will rapidly intensify and lift up the Eastern Seaboard. The distance from the shore will play a strong role in how much rainfall can be expected for the Mid-Atlantic and New England states. Rain and snow will also spread into the Northeastern states into Saturday as both this system and the low behind it moving across southeast Canada. Coastal rain and mountain snow is expected throughout the day today and again on Saturday for the Pacific Northwest and portions of the Intermountain west and Great Basin. Total moisture along the Northwest Coast will range from 1 to 4 inches - 2 to 5 inches for northern California. Isolated amounts near 7 inches will be possible for the higher terrain in northern California. Up to a foot or more of snow will be possible in the highest elevations of the Cascades, Sierras, and Intermountain West/Central Rockies. An excessive rainfall outlook is in effect for northern California on Sunday, as heavy rainfall could lead to rock slides and mudslides within steep terrain. Campbell Graphics available at www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/basicwx/basicwx_wbg.php