Short Range Forecast Discussion NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD 253 PM EST Wed Jan 25 2017 Valid 00Z Thu Jan 26 2017 - 00Z Sat Jan 28 2017 ...Active weather over the eastern U.S. through Thursday before transitioning to a quiet pattern nationwide by the weekend... A low pressure system currently lifting northeast across the Great Lakes region is bringing a wintry mix of precipitation from Iowa to northern Michigan, and showers across parts of the Ohio Valley. Winter storm warnings and winter weather advisories remain in effect for parts of this region. This low should then reach the northeast U.S. by Thursday, with wintry weather confined to northern New England and the western Great Lakes. A cold front associated with this low is forecast to reach the East Coast by Thursday afternoon, bringing a cooler and drier air mass across the eastern U.S. to close out the work week. The low pressure system will quickly push through New England Thursday before exiting into Canada by Thursday night. In the wake of this storm system, cold northwest flow across the Great Lakes is expected to result in lake effect snow, with significant accumulations likely east of lakes Michigan, Erie, and Ontario. Elsewhere across the nation, high pressure will continue to steadily build over the West tonight and through the rest of the week, expanding into the adjacent Plains by Friday. Approaching northern Pacific weather systems should be deflected northward before reaching the West Coast given the strong high pressure ridge in place. Only isolated rain or snow showers are possible across portions of California, Oregon and Washington through the day Thursday. Wix/Hamrick Graphics available at www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/basicwx/basicwx_ndfd.php