Short Range Forecast Discussion NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD 300 AM EST Thu Feb 09 2017 Valid 12Z Thu Feb 09 2017 - 12Z Sat Feb 11 2017 ...Heavy snow possible across parts of New England and the northern Appalachians... ...Lake effect snow over parts of the Upper Great Lakes... ...Heavy rain possible over parts of Northern California and the Pacific Northwest... ...A wintry mix of snow and ice possible near the Canadian Border in the Pacific Northwest, with heavy snow possible in the higher elevations of the Northern Rockies... The strong low pressure system that impacted much of the eastern U.S. is poised to move off the mid Atlantic coast today, and then travel northeast and along seaboard. A strong surge of cold air will continue to push its way across much of the eastern half of the conus behind this exiting system. Some wrap around moisture near the low pressure system will likely interact with this rapidly cooling airmass to produce snow across much of New England, especially along the Atlantic coast, as well as upslope snow showers for much of the central and northern Appalachians. A wintry mix of rain and snow will be likely just along the coast through this morning. Lake Effect snow showers will also be possible in downwind regions of the Upper Great Lakes today, stretching across the Lower Great Lakes tonight and Friday. Another strong center of low pressure continues to spin off the Pacific Northwest coast. A warm front associated with this system caused a surge of warm moist air across the region yesterday and overnight. Today, the warm front will continue to lift into Canada, but the associated cold front will begin impacting the coast. This will bring yet another round of moisture across the region. Given the warm airmass currently in place, conditions will be set for most locations to see precipitation in the form of rain as this cold front moves through. However, locations closer to the Canadian border could still see snow or a wintry mix of snow, rain, and ice over the next couple of days. Colder air will move in behind the frontal passage, bringing a mix of rain and wintry precipitation to much of the region by Friday, and continuing into the weekend. Winter storm warnings and advisories are currently in effect for much of Washington, northern Idaho, west and northern Montana, and western Wyoming. While many of the affected lower elevations will see a combination of ice and snow, some higher elevations of the Bitterroots, Absarokas, and Wind River Mountains could see additional heavy snows, with accumulations in excess of a foot through Friday. Meanwhile, for the remaining Pacific Northwest that is expecting rain today, flood watches and warnings are in effect for the coastal areas of Washington, much of Oregon, north and central California, southern Idaho and northern Nevada. Ziegenfelder Graphics available at www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/basicwx/basicwx_ndfd.php