Short Range Forecast Discussion NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD 258 AM EST Thu Feb 25 2016 Valid 12Z Thu Feb 25 2016 - 12Z Sat Feb 27 2016 ...Heavy snow possible across portions of the Ohio valley, Great Lakes and New England... ...Temperatures across the West today are expected to be 10 to 20 degrees above average... The strong low pressure system that brought a variety of significant weather from the South up through the Mid-Atlantic will continue to lift northeast into Canada by this afternoon. Snow is expected for the areas to the north and west of the passing low center. Winter Weather Advisories, Winter Storm Warnings and a few Blizzard Warnings are in effect from eastern Illinois to Michigan over to western Ohio and areas along the southern shore of Lake Erie, as well as, northern Maine. Additionally, strong wind gusts of 40 to 50 mph at times may result in blizzard conditions at times for portions of eastern Illinois and northwestern Indiana. These conditions will make travel extremely dangerous, if not impossible for the affected areas. Please refer to products issued by your local NWS Forecast Office for details specific to your area. Accumulations of 2 to 4 inches will be common, with a few isolated areas near 6 inches possible. Colder air will change rain to snow across the southern/central Appalachians as well tonight into Thursday morning, with 1 to 4 inches of snow expected -- Winter Weather Advisories are in effect. A warm and unstable air mass, along with the strong wind field at the mid and upper-levels associated with this system, resulted in the development of a long line of strong-to-severe thunderstorms that moved through the Mid-Atlantic yesterday. This line of storms have held together overnight across the Northeast and are expected to diminish by early/mid morning today as the front moves offshore. Please refer to products issued by the Storm Prediction Center for further details on the severe weather threat. In addition to thunderstorms, heavy rainfall is also posing a threat, with some areas exceeding one inch of rainfall -- resulting in flooding for some areas. Flood Warnings have been issued from Maryland to southwest Maine. Scattered snow showers associated with a weak frontal system are moving through portions of the High Plains. A vast majority of the central and western U.S. will have mild and dry conditions as higher pressure remains over the area. Temperatures will be well above seasonal average west of the Divide -- with many locations expected to be 10 to 20 degrees above average today. By Friday, a Pacific cold front will approach the West Coast, spreading rain across the Pacific Northwest. Campbell Graphics available at www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/basicwx/basicwx_wbg.php