Short Range Forecast Discussion NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD 225 AM EST Tue Feb 16 2016 Valid 12Z Tue Feb 16 2016 - 12Z Thu Feb 18 2016 ...Strong storm system to affect the East Coast through tonight... ...Rain and mountain snow returning to the West Coast... A strong storm system over the eastern third of the nation will continue tracking northward along the crest of the Appalachians and should reach New England by Tuesday evening. This will have a multitude of precipitation types associated with it, including freezing rain across interior portions of the Northeast U.S. where accumulations of a quarter inch of ice will be possible before transitioning to rain. Snow is expected on the backside of the surface low from eastern Kentucky to western New York state where the cold air will be deepest. Closer to the coast, temperatures are forecast to rise into the 50s to near 60 degrees along with windy conditions before the cold front moves through the region. Numerous winter weather advisories and winter storm warnings are in effect for this event. After a rather lengthy period of quiet weather and high pressure over much of the Intermountain West and California, a strong Pacific cold front and low pressure system is forecast to reach the West Coast by Wednesday afternoon and result in widespread lower elevation and mountain snow through Thursday. The Cascades and Sierra Nevada are expected to get the greatest snowfall totals, with amounts in excess of one foot likely. Precipitation is also expected from Nevada to Colorado as the front moves inland. Over the Midwest, a quick-moving disturbance should bring a quick round of light rain and some snow on Tuesday and then cross the Ohio Valley by Tuesday night. Precipitation amounts are expected to be light. Hamrick Graphics available at www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/basicwx/basicwx_wbg.php