Short Range Forecast Discussion NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD 249 AM EST Mon Jan 16 2017 Valid 12Z Mon Jan 16 2017 - 12Z Wed Jan 18 2017 ...Big low pressure system affecting parts of the central U.S. and Upper Midwest through Monday... The large low pressure system currently over the central Plains Monday morning is producing an expansive area of precipitation, and this is expected to continue over the next two days as the low progresses towards the northeast. Periods of heavy rain and thunderstorms are likely from eastern Texas to southern Missouri on Monday ahead of the cold front. Farther to the north from eastern Colorado to Wisconsin, it will be in the form of wintry weather, with freezing rain and sleet from Kansas to Iowa, and snow on the northern periphery of the precipitation from Colorado to Nebraska where the cold air is deeper. The weather pattern across the Pacific Northwest will become quite active again by Tuesday with heavy rain and mountain snow, compliments of strong onshore flow from the next approaching storm system over the northeast Pacific Ocean. By Wednesday, this moisture should begin reaching California and the northern Rockies, with the heaviest rain expected for the coastal mountain ranges from northern California to Washington. Strong and gusty winds are also likely near the coast and for the higher elevations. For the East Coast, expect the next chance of noteworthy precipitation to arrive by Tuesday morning as the central Plains storm system starts affecting the region, but with much less wintry weather by that time. Temperatures should also moderate by the middle of the week with readings generally above seasonal averages for many areas. D. Hamrick Graphics available at www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/basicwx/basicwx_ndfd.php