Short Range Forecast Discussion NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD 355 AM EDT Tue Mar 15 2016 Valid 12Z Tue Mar 15 2016 - 12Z Thu Mar 17 2016 ...Strong Pacific front will continue crossing the central and eastern parts of the nation... ...Low pressure expected to develop over the Upper Midwest... A strong Pacific cold front will continue tracking eastward from the western High Plains on Tuesday and reaching the East Coast by Thursday morning. As the front reaches the eastern U.S., the temperature contrast will not be as significant with only slightly cooler conditions behind it. High pressure will continue building over the western U.S. and result in less precipitation over this region compared to recent days with just a few scattered snow showers over some of the higher mountain ranges. An area of low pressure along the front is forecast to intensify into a fairly significant storm system with a band of organized rain and thunderstorm activity likely from Wisconsin to the southern Great Lakes. Some severe thunderstorms will be possible across parts of the Ohio Valley and Illinois on Tuesday as the vigorous storm system intercepts an influx of warmer air. Several inches of snow is possible across northern Minnesota and extending towards Lake Superior. Mild conditions will continue across the Southeast and Gulf Coast states through Wednesday. Hamrick Graphics available at www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/basicwx/basicwx_wbg.php