Short Range Forecast Discussion NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD 251 PM EST Sat Feb 06 2016 Valid 00Z Sun Feb 07 2016 - 00Z Tue Feb 09 2016 ...Coastal storm to bring rain and maybe some wet snow across portions of the Carolinas Sunday morning... ...Much colder temperatures to arrive into the north-central U.S. Sunday into Monday along with blizzard conditions at times... ...Warming trend expected along the West Coast into early next week while remaining dry... A developing frontal system just east of the Florida Peninsula will by accompanied by a strengthening surface low tonight into early Sunday. The surface low is expected to track close enough to the southeast coast of the U.S. where it will bring locally heavy rain to eastern North and South Carolina beginning overnight tonight. As the storm strengthens, some wet snow and minor accumulations could develop over portions of the Carolinas early Sunday morning. Any accumulations should be minor, but winds will become gusty during the day on Sunday along the entire Southeast Coast. As the surface low advances into Sunday night and early Monday morning, it is expected to clip southeast New England with a few inches of snowfall while the heaviest snow stays out over the Atlantic. A deep surface low will track across the Upper Mississippi Valley on Sunday, with a cold front trailing to its southwest. It is actually a secondary cold front that will usher in much colder temperatures for the north-central U.S. by late in the day in Sunday. Temperatures departures from normal highs are expected to drop from +25 today to -10 for Monday. In addition, winds will strengthen through tonight and spread southeastward across the region on Sunday along with snow showers. While snow accumulations will be light, the combination of falling temperatures, blowing snow and gusty winds will make for blizzard conditions at times, forcing travel to be hazardous. Across the western U.S., a large upper level ridge will develop over the entire region, given a reprieve from recent wet/snowy weather. The upper ridge will prevent rain/snow from impacting the West, while also ensuring warming temperatures through Monday. High temperatures for Sunday and Monday are forecast to be between 5 and 15 degrees above average from western Washington to southern California and southwestern Arizona. Otto Graphics available at www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/basicwx/basicwx_wbg.php