Short Range Forecast Discussion NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD 258 AM EST Fri Dec 30 2016 Valid 12Z Fri Dec 30 2016 - 12Z Sun Jan 01 2017 ...Heavy snow over Maine wind down on Friday morning... ...Heavy rain possible over the Central Gulf Coast... ...Temperatures will be 10 to 20 degrees above average across the Northern/Central Plains... A front over the Northern High Plains to parts of the Pacific Northwest will move eastward to the Great Lakes and southward to the Southern Plains/Southern California by Saturday evening. The system will produce snow over parts of the interior Pacific Northwest to the Northern Rockies with rain along the Pacific Northwest Coast on Friday morning. The snow will move into the Upper Mississippi Valley/Upper Great Lakes by Friday evening and into parts of the Northeast by Saturday evening. Rain will develop along the front over parts of the Lower Mississippi Valley/Southern Plains overnight Friday and move eastward to Ohio/Tennessee Valleys/Central Gulf Coast by Saturday evening. A surface low just off the Mid-Atlantic coast today will rapidly deepen as it moves up the Northeast coastline and eventually curves back into eastern Canada by Friday morning. Heavy snowfall across interior New England is expected to continue tonight and into Friday, with storm total accumulations of 1 to 2 feet, or more, possible. In addition to the heavy snowfall, gusty winds will also accompany the storm making travel across the area hazardous. On the backside of the system, cold air and favorable flow across the Great Lakes will produce lake enhanced snowfall, with the heaviest accumulations expected downwind of lakes Erie and Ontario, where lake effect snow warnings are in effect. Accumulating snow is also expected along favorable upslope regions of the central Appalachians. Across the Southwest and Four Corners regions, rain and mountain snow will also be possible Friday into Saturday as shortwave energy moves through. A second system dropping into the Pacific Northwest on Saturday brings another round of rain and snow to the region, with snow even possible in the lower elevations later in the day as there should be very cold air behind the front. Ziegenfelder Graphics available at www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/basicwx/basicwx_ndfd.php