Short Range Forecast Discussion NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD 239 AM EST Sun Dec 18 2016 Valid 12Z Sun Dec 18 2016 - 12Z Tue Dec 20 2016 ...Strong cold front clearing the Gulf Coast and East Coast, followed by a quieter weather pattern... A strong cold front currently crossing the Appalachian Mountains is steadily making its way towards the East Coast, and move offshore by Sunday evening. The southern portion of this front will also clear the Gulf Coast, except for southern Florida which should stay ahead of the front through this forecast period. Behind this front, a fresh surge of bitterly cold arctic air is flowing southward across the Plains and Midwest states. Overnight lows reached the minus 20s or lower across much of the northern Plains Sunday morning! Although these frigid temperatures will moderate going through Monday and Tuesday, very cold weather is in the forecast for the Great Lakes, Ohio Valley, and New England after the front moves through. Even the Gulf Coast region will have below normal temperatures for a few days. Behind the front, a large and expansive surface high will establish residence across much of the central U.S. through Monday and also across much of the West. Once the front clears the coast, a quieter weather pattern is likely to commence with much less in the way of precipitation nationwide compared to recent days. D. Hamrick Graphics available at www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/basicwx/basicwx_ndfd.php