Short Range Forecast Discussion NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD 346 AM EST Fri Jan 22 2016 Valid 12Z Fri Jan 22 2016 - 12Z Sun Jan 24 2016 ...Major winter storm will impact a vast area spanning from the Ozarks to the Mid-Atlantic through the weekend... ...Severe weather possible across eastern Gulf coasts and Florida... ...Heavy rainfall expected in lower elevations of NW CA/SW OR with heavy snow in higher elevations of Sierras and WA Cascades... A robust winter storm system is tracking across the Gulf states and is expected to move northward through the Mid-Atlantic this weekend. Areas of heavy snow are expected to develop in western Tennessee, Kentucky and in the southern Appalachians, and expand into central Appalachians and mid Atlantic while increasing snowfall intensity. An extensive area stretching from the lower Mississippi Valley to the Carolinas and north to the New Jersey have Winter Storm Advisories and Warnings in effect. Amounts will vary greatly, with three day totals ranging from 2 to 12 inches. Much of the central Appalachians, northern Virginia, Washington D.C, Maryland and Delaware will be hit the hardest with this system. Snowfall of 1 to 2 feet is forecast, possibly higher in isolated locations. A strong low over the Atlantic waters will become a dominant force in setting up very gusty winds in the mid Atlantic to Long Island, with storm surge flooding possible. Much of the Del-Mar-Va and southern New Jersey have a Coastal Flood Advisory in effect. A blizzard warning is in effect across the Washington, D.C. and Baltimore metro area and nearby locations. Travel will likely be severely impacted this weekend. Significant icing is forecast for areas south of the heaviest snow. A quarter to half inch of ice accumulations across parts of the interior Carolinas outside the mountains - with lighter amounts expected in Kentucky and over the much of the central/eastern Carolinas. Portions of the Gulf coast and Florida will have showers and thunderstorms ahead of the advancing cold front. The Storm Prediction Center highlights this area as having a slight risk of severe thunderstorms. This convective threat will end once the cold front passes. A broad, deep upper trough positioned over the western U.S. will cause abundant rainfall over western Washington and Oregon, along with California. Regions of enhanced orographic lift are expected to result in the highest totals across the coastal ranges with heavy snow at higher elevations of the Shasta, Sierra Nevada, Olympics, and Washington Cascades. Snow progresses to the northern and central Rockies and higher elevations of the central and northern Great Basin, with amounts that are not as heavy as over California. Campbell/Petersen Graphics available at www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/basicwx/basicwx_wbg.php