Short Range Forecast Discussion NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD 345 AM EST Sun Jan 17 2016 Valid 12Z Sun Jan 17 2016 - 12Z Tue Jan 19 2016 ...Well below-normal temperatures continuing across portions of the northern Great Plains and upper Midwest... ...Strong to severe storms possible for parts of Florida... ...Heavy precipitation possible for portions of the Pacific Northwest and northern California... Surface high pressure will continue to build across much of the Great Plains and Upper Midwest and will reinforce the arctic airmass that is in place. Temperatures will hover below zero Fahrenheit through the weekend across much of the Dakotas and Minnesota. Combined with the winds, apparent temperatures are forecast to drop as low as 30 to 40 degrees below zero. As the ridge over central portions of the CONUS strengthens the below average temperatures swill to spill further to the south and east -- extending into the southern Great Plains and across the Midwest into the eastern U.S. by Monday. Numerous Wind Chill Advisories and Warnings are in effect from eastern Montana to Wisconsin south to northern Missouri. Snow will steadily decrease across Maine as low pressure center continues to track offshore the New England coast. Snow will however continue for the Great Lakes and surrounding areas as arctic air persists in spilling across the relatively warm Great Lakes. This conditions will support lake effect snow showers, producing locally heavy accumulations downwind of the lakes. Winter Weather Advisories and Lake Effect Snow Warnings are in effect for areas downwind of the Lakes. Widespread showers and thunderstorms will develop over the the Southeast as an area of low pressure is forecast to intensify over the western Gulf of Mexico and track across the northern Gulf/Florida peninsula. The Storm Prediction Center has highlighted most of the Florida peninsula as having a slight risk for severe storms through Monday morning. Refer to SPC's Convective Outlooks for additional information. Two systems will track through the Pacific Northwest and northern California over the next couple of days. The first will dissipate this afternoon and the second approaches this evening. Heavy precipitation is forecast for portions of coastal Oregon and northern California. Mountain snows and valley rains are expected to spread across the Great Basin into the northern and central Rockies as this system presses further through Monday. An Excessive Rainfall Outlook has been issued for northern California and southwest Oregon today - periods of heavy rain may lead to areas of flashing flooding. Campbell Graphics available at www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/basicwx/basicwx_wbg.php