Short Range Forecast Discussion NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD 259 AM EST Wed Dec 28 2016 Valid 12Z Wed Dec 28 2016 - 12Z 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... Precipitation across the Northern High Plains will taper off by mid-morning. Snow will spread from the Upper Mid-Midwest to the Great Lakes area this afternoon as the cold front tracks through - spreading into the Ohio Valley, northern Appalachians and the Northeast Thursday and Friday. Rain and thunderstorms are expected across much of the Deep South, southern Appalachians and Mid-Atlantic as front a warm lifts through today and Thursday. An area of low pressure is forecast to develop just offshore the Mid-Atlantic and rapidly spin up into a robust cyclone near the New England Coast; which is forecast to yield heavy snow and gusty winds. A winter storm watch is in effect by the end of the week for New England. Another round of rain and mountain snow will spread across the Pacific Northwest, the interior West and Intermountain West as another low pressure system approaches the Coast and moves inland Thursday evening into Friday. 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 are in effect for the higher terrain of the Northwest. Campbell Graphics available at www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/basicwx/basicwx_ndfd.php