Short Range Forecast Discussion NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD 300 AM EST Fri Nov 18 2016 Valid 12Z Fri Nov 18 2016 - 12Z Sun Nov 20 2016 ...Heavy snow with blizzard conditions possible from the northern Plains into the upper Midwest... ...Very mild weather will overspread much of the eastern U.S. ahead of a strong cold front... ...Heavy showers are expected reach northern California on Saturday ahead of a large Pacific low... The first significant winter storm of the season is in progress over the northern Plains as a low pressure system intensifies along a well-defined front. Snow is expected to spread northeastward from the northern Plains into the upper Midwest through tonight. As the storm intensifies, winds are expected to become very strong and gusty. These will be combined with heavy snow to create blizzard conditions at the height of the storm, particularly from eastern South Dakota into Minnesota this afternoon into the evening. The heaviest snow is forecast to occur near the Arrow Head of Minnesota tonight before the storm begins to weaken and moves further away into the Great Lakes on Saturday. This storm will carry a strong cold front sweeping across the eastern U.S. during the next couple of days. Temperatures will become unseasonably mild well ahead of the front with fair skies. Rain will signal the arrival of the front along with tumbling temperatures. Areas from the Appalachians westward into the Ohio Valley will even see snow showers arriving later on Saturday under a cold upper-level trough. Meanwhile, a front associated with a large low pressure system off the West Coast will reach the coastal areas by Saturday morning. Late on Friday evening, a plume of moisture is forecast to move into parts of the central and northern California coastal areas where rain is expected become heavy at times on Saturday. Rain will also reach the Pacific Northwest overnight Friday into Saturday morning. Meanwhile, snow will develop over the highest elevations of the Cascades and northern Sierras. Kong Graphics available at www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/basicwx/basicwx_wbg.php