Short Range Forecast Discussion NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD 328 AM EST Wed Mar 08 2017 Valid 12Z Wed Mar 08 2017 - 12Z Fri Mar 10 2017 ...Lake effect snow showers are expected across the Upper Great Lakes over the next several days... ...Another round of heavy snow is possible for the Northern Rockies and Northern Plains over the next couple of days... ...Heavy rain possible over parts of the Pacific Northwest... The potent cold front that impacted much of the eastern half of the U.S. will exit eastward into the Atlantic and southward into the Gulf of Mexico today. Rain showers will be possible along the coast through this morning, coming to an end throughout the day. Florida and Southeast Texas may see continued shower and thunderstorm chances as the cold front continues to impact these locations. A reinforcing cold front will continue the surge of much colder air across the north central U.S. Northwest flow will lead to snow showers downwind of the Upper Great Lakes over the next several days, and in the lower Great Lakes. As the cold front quickly sinks to the southeast over the next several days, it will begin interacting with moist flow from the Gulf of Mexico. This will lead to scattered showers and thunderstorms developing ahead of the frontal boundary by Thursday, occupying the Southern Plains and the Lower Mississippi Valley, then spreading eastward Thursday night. Meanwhile, portions of New England could see precipitation in the form of scattered snow showers Thursday night into Friday. A series of low pressure systems are poised to impact the Pacific Northwest over the next few days. The system that moved inland yesterday will propagate across the Northern Rockies and into the Northern Plains today, as another low pressure system makes landfall overnight. Yet another strengthening system is set to reach the coast by Thursday night/Friday morning. The string of systems will leave a frontal boundary draped from west to east from the Pacific Northwest to the Northern Rockies, and then southeast into the Northern Plains, shifting northward through Friday. An associated plume of moisture will lead to rain along the coastal regions, as well as for most locations south of the frontal boundary. For the highest elevations of the Rockies, and areas north of the boundary, snow is expected, expanding eastward into the Northern Plains through Friday. Winter Storm Watches are in effect for portions of the northern Rockies and Northern Plains for the upcoming snow threat. There is also a risk of flooding across portions of the region as rain and warmer temperatures lead to melting snow pack. Wix Graphics available at www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/basicwx/basicwx_ndfd.php