Short Range Forecast Discussion NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD 256 PM EST Tue Nov 22 2016 Valid 00Z Wed Nov 23 2016 - 00Z Fri Nov 25 2016 ...There is a slight risk of severe thunderstorms over parts of Eastern Texas... ...Heavy rain possible over the Northwest Coast... ...Heavy rain possible over parts of the Southern Plains/Lower Mississippi Valley... The cold and windy weather across much of the eastern U.S. is expected to abate some going into the middle of the week as the strong surface low over northeast Canada weakens and moves away. Heavy snow over upstate New York has been impressive with some areas getting over 20 inches of snow over the past 2 days! This is also expected to decrease through Tuesday with some lingering snow showers expected over this region. After a brief period of dry weather, another Pacific storm system is forecast to reach the West Coast by Tuesday evening and bring moderate to heavy rain from central California to Washington state. Heavy snow is likely for the Cascades and eventually the northern Rockies as the moisture moves farther inland. A surface low is developing in the lee of the Rockies and is forecast to track across the central Plains and towards the Great Lakes by Thursday morning. This low and its frontal boundaries will generate widespread showers and thunderstorms from the Ohio Valley to the Gulf Coast, including a few strong to severe storms across the southern and central Plains. Farther to the north across the Dakotas, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and northern Michigan, wintry weather is likely with mixed precipitation near the transition zone. Ziegenfelder Graphics available at www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/basicwx/basicwx_ndfd.php