Short Range Forecast Discussion NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD 257 PM EST Tue Dec 27 2016 Valid 00Z Wed Dec 28 2016 - 00Z Fri Dec 30 2016 ...Rain and mountain snow continues for much of the Northwest, with heavy snow possible in the highest terrain... ...Rain and thunderstorms expected to move from the lower Mississippi Valley to the Mid-Atlantic, with snow farther north... ...Winter storm possible by Thursday evening across interior New England... A cold front dropping quickly through the Intermountain West this afternoon, reaching the high plains by early Wednesday will keep rain and mountain snow in the forecast tonight, before tapering off by Wednesday afternoon. Heavy snowfall may be possible in the higher elevations, particularly the Washington Cascades, and the mountains of northern Idaho and western Wyoming. Winter storm warnings and winter weather advisories remain in effect for the higher terrain of the Northwest. Another system behind this should bring another round of rain and mountain snow into the Pacific Northwest by Thursday. Scattered rain and thunderstorms remain in the forecast this evening along a frontal boundary dropping slowly southward through the Deep South. This front lifts northward as a warm front by Wednesday, which should help to pull moisture up from the Gulf of Mexico. Expect rain chances to increase Wednesday from the central Gulf Coast to the Ohio Valley, and the Mid-Atlantic by early Thursday. Temperatures should be cold enough on the northern edge of the precipitation shield to support snow from the Great Lakes to the Northeast. An area of low pressure develops across the Mid-Atlantic by 12z Thursday which may spin up into a rather impressive cyclone by the end of the forecast period just off the New England coast. This would mean heavy snowfall and gusty winds for much of interior New England by the end of the week. Santorelli Graphics available at www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/basicwx/basicwx_ndfd.php