Short Range Forecast Discussion NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD 248 PM EST Mon Mar 06 2017 Valid 00Z Tue Mar 07 2017 - 00Z Thu Mar 09 2017 ...Heavy snow will continuing this afternoon across portions of the Pacific Northwest, California, and the Intermountain West... ...Showers and thunderstorms forecast for the central/eastern U.S -- possibly severe today across the Midwest... ...A wintry mix will transition to all snow today across the Northern Plains... Coastal rain and mountain snow will persist from the Pacific Northwest Coast/northern California to the Intermountain West as onshore flow continues. Precipitation will slowly decrease across the area this evening but will ramp up again as another low pressure system approaches and moves inland by midweek. Winter Storm Warnings and Winter Weather Advisories remain in effect for portions of the Northwest and California today for continued snow concerns. A robust surface low pressure system currently over the Northern Plains is expected to deepen as it lifts north and east into Manitoba and Ontario. An extensive cold front associated with this low will push eastward across much of the central U.S. this afternoon, then cross the Mississippi Valley and Southern Plains tonight. It is expected to reach the Eastern Seaboard by Wednesday morning. The northern portion of this system is expected to have significant snowfall totals that is accompanied by strong gusty winds. A vast area spanning from North Dakota to New Mexico have a high wind watch in effect. With the anticipated winds in addition to the expected snow, North Dakota and eastern Montana and Wyoming have winter weather advisories in effect -- with a few counties along the International border in North Dakota with winter storm warnings and blizzard warnings. Strong to severe thunderstorms are anticipated along the central and southern flank of this front as it passes through the Midwest/Mi-Mississippi valley and the Southern Plains. Please refer to the Storm Prediction Center for additional information on the threat for severe weather. Strong return flow along the back side of a departing high is currently allowing warm and moist air to stream northward from the Gulf of Mexico. This will continue to spark scattered showers and thunderstorms across much of the southeast U.S. today and into the overnight hours. Campbell Graphics available at www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/basicwx/basicwx_ndfd.php