Short Range Forecast Discussion NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD 331 AM EDT Wed Mar 16 2016 Valid 12Z Wed Mar 16 2016 - 12Z Fri Mar 18 2016 ...Strong frontal system will continue crossing the eastern states... ...Low pressure expected to develop over the Upper Midwest... A cold front will continue tracking eastward across the eastern U.S. on Wednesday before exiting the East Coast by late Wednesday night. Warm weather is expected ahead of this front across the Mid-Atlantic and Southeast on Wednesday with highs in the 70s and 80s, with perhaps a few record highs possible. The temperature change behind the front is expected to be gradual, with noticeably cooler conditions arriving by the end of the week. 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. Over the Upper Midwest, a low pressure area at the northern end of the front is forecast to intensify into a fairly significant storm system with widespread rain expected from eastern Iowa to Michigan. On the northern side of this low, several inches of snow is possible across northern Minnesota and extending towards Lake Superior through Wednesday afternoon. Windy conditions are also expected to develop in the vicinity of the surface low with a strong pressure gradient in place. Hamrick Graphics available at www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/basicwx/basicwx_wbg.php