Short Range Forecast Discussion NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD 253 PM EST Sat Mar 11 2017 Valid 00Z Sun Mar 12 2017 - 00Z Tue Mar 14 2017 ...Colder than normal across much of the nation with winter weather expected for some places... A surface low pressure system is forecast to develop along a frontal boundary over the northern Gulf of Mexico this weekend and track northward up the East Coast by midweek. By Monday widespread rain is expected from the Southeast/eastern Gulf states to the Tennessee valley/southern Appalachians/Mid-Atlantic. Some strong thunderstorms will also be possible across this region. A wintry mix or all snow is forecast from Monday and beyond from the Central Appalachians/Mid-Atlantic to New England. While this southern system is materializing and evolving another system crosses the central U.S. by Monday... reaching the lower Mississippi/Tennessee valley by Tuesday. This reinforcing shot of cold air will keep snow in the forecast for portions of the Northern Plains/Upper Midwest/Great Lakes/Ohio Valley. With Arctic air surging into the central and eastern states many locations will observe temperatures that are easily 10 to 25 degrees below seasonal averages-- which may result in a few record lows temperatures to be set. Across the southwestern U.S.... where the ridge will be building in... dry conditions with mild to warm temperatures can be expected. Campbell Graphics available at www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/basicwx/basicwx_ndfd.php