Short Range Forecast Discussion NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD 357 AM EST Sat Jan 16 2016 Valid 12Z Sat Jan 16 2016 - 12Z Mon Jan 18 2016 ...A Nor'easter is expected to clip the New England coast on Saturday... ...Rain expected to spread eastward along the Gulf coast on Saturday...reaching Florida on Sunday with gusty winds and strong thunderstorms possible... ...Periods of coastal rain and mountain snow to continue through the weekend for the western states... Areas east of the Continental Divide will be impacted by fast-moving/developing systems over the next couple of days. Much of the East Coast from the Mid-Atlantic to the furthest extent of the Northeast will have rain and gusty winds as a Nor'easter tracks up the coast. Rain will transition to mixed precipitation this afternoon for most of New England, before changing to all snow late tonight/early Sunday morning. Snow totals of 4 to 8 inches are forecast for central and northern New England. Arctic air surges into the northern states/Great Lakes region today in the wake of an Alberta Clipper. Most of High Plains and Upper Midwest have wind chill advisories in place. Upper Michigan could have isolated heavy snow, with amounts possible exceeding 1 foot, for areas downwind of Lake Superior. Lake Effect Snow Advisories are in place for this particular area. Numerous Winter Weather Advisories are in effect from New York to Maine. Ice accumulations, if any, are expected to be light; however 6 to 10 inches of snow is likely through Monday morning. Snow shower activities will spread downstream across the Ohio Valley into the central Appalachians as well. Amounts will range from 1 to 4 inches. A developing low pressure system in the western Gulf of Mexico is forecast to intensify and move rapidly eastward, spreading a round of rain along the Gulf coast. Portions of Florida are in a slight risk for severe thunderstorms today. Please refer to the Storm Prediction Center's webpage for additional information. The low may deepen as it moves across Florida on Sunday, where gusty winds and strong thunderstorms are possible. Periods of higher rainfall rates can be expected near the Gulf Coast and across northern Florida, resulting in 1 to 2 inches. Multiple low pressure systems and associated fronts will keep much of the West unsettled through early next week. Periods of coastal rain and mountain snow can be expected. Much of the higher elevations of western Washington and Oregon could observe 1 to 4 inches, with isolated ares of 5 inches possible with these two systems. Northern California and the Sierras have forecast amounts reaching and/or exceeding 6 inches. An Excessive Rainfall Outlook has been issued for northern California and extreme southwest Oregon for Sunday as flash flooding may occur. Campbell Graphics available at www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/basicwx/basicwx_wbg.php