Short Range Forecast Discussion NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD 257 AM EST Thu Nov 17 2016 Valid 12Z Thu Nov 17 2016 - 12Z Sat Nov 19 2016 ...Winter storm to bring potential for heavy snow from the central Rockies to the Upper Midwest... ...Warm temperatures expected to migrate from the Midwest to the Ohio valley and Northeast... A strengthening low pressure system will move from the central Rockies into the Great Plains today. Precipitation initially falling as snow over the Rockies this morning will spread east into the Plains this afternoon. While rain will fall initially for many areas across the central/northern Plains and Upper Midwest, precipitation will change to snow from west to east as colder air wraps around the western side of the low pressure system. By Friday morning a band of potentially heavy snow will be falling from the northern Plains to the Upper Midwest. A strong pressure gradient around the intensifying low pressure system will also lead to strong and gusty winds, and blizzard conditions are possible for some areas. By Friday night into Saturday morning, the low pressure system will be moving northeastward across the upper Great Lakes, with snow continuing on the northwestern side of the system. Please refer to products issued by local NWS forecast offices for winter storm details specific to your area. Farther south, in the warm sector of the frontal system, showers and thunderstorms will be possible ahead of the cold front tonight and Friday from the lower Mississippi valley to the Ohio valley. After this initial low pressure system move east, most of the West will remain dry on Friday. A Pacific frontal system will approach the Northwest by late in the day Friday, spreading rain and mountain snow into the Pacific Northwest into Saturday morning. Warm temperatures will persist ahead of the central U.S. low pressure system as high pressure at the mid and upper-levels builds overhead. High temperatures today are forecast to be 15 to 25 degrees above average today from the southern plains to the upper Great Lakes. These warm temperatures will move east on Friday into the Ohio valley, lower Great Lakes, and the Northeast. Colder temperatures will move into much of the Plains by Friday behind the incoming cold front and low pressure system. Ryan Graphics available at www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/basicwx/basicwx_wbg.php