Short Range Forecast Discussion NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD 259 PM EST Sun Feb 07 2016 Valid 00Z Mon Feb 08 2016 - 00Z Wed Feb 10 2016 ...Sharply falling temperatures in the north-central U.S. with 10-20 degree departures from average highs by Tuesday... ...Unsettled conditions with colder temperatures and snow from the Ohio Valley into the northern Mid-Atlantic and Northeast to start off the week... ...Warm and dry along the West Coast through mid-week... A rapidly strengthening surface low off of the southeast U.S. coastline will lift northeastward tonight, far enough away from land to largely spare New England from a major snow storm. Still, southeastern New England will lie close enough to the outer edges of the storm system and could pick up several inches of snow during the day on Monday, with the heaviest over southeastern Massachusetts, where 6 or more inches could fall through Monday evening. A second storm system is currently producing blizzard-like conditions throughout portions of the lower Northern Plains and Minnesota. While snow accumulations are light, the storm is ushering in frigid temperatures from the north with winds gusting to 40 and 50 mph. A developing upper level trough over the region will gradually increase in size as it settles over the eastern half of the nation by Tuesday morning. Unsettled conditions are expected for many from the Ohio Valley to the Northeast with scattered snow showers and the development of a secondary area of low pressure near the Mid-Atlantic coast early Tuesday morning. Except along the immediate coast, temperatures will be cold enough to support snow with mostly light accumulations, though some moderate accumulations in excess of 4-6 inches will be possible for a few locations in the northern Mid-Atlantic region. High pressure will remain west of the Rockies through at least Wednesday, which will keep dry conditions in place. Temperatures are expected to be roughly 10 to 20 degrees above average with limited cloud cover from Washington to California. A cold front is expected to near the West Coast late Tuesday into Wednesday which will increase clouds along coastal locations, but any chance for rainfall will hold off til late in the day Wednesday and be limited to the Pacific Northwest coast. Otto Graphics available at www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/basicwx/basicwx_wbg.php