Short Range Forecast Discussion NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD 347 PM EDT Fri Oct 13 2017 Valid 00Z Sat Oct 14 2017 - 00Z Mon Oct 16 2017 ...Snow expected across the Cascades and northern Rockies... ...Heavy rain possible over parts of Upper Midwest... ...Pattern change for the eastern U.S. by Sunday night... Snow showers over the northwest quadrant of the nation are currently ongoing from the Cascades to the northern Rockies. As the shortwave disturbance aloft continues to move eastward, drier air will begin infiltrating that region and lead to a decrease in the snow going into the weekend. Some mountainous locations could get in excess of 8 inches of snow by the time this event is over, especially over the Cascade range. A developing surface low and strong cold front will be the main weather story across the central and eastern U.S. through the weekend and into Monday. This will herald a pattern change for the eastern half of the nation given the recent warm weather compared to October standards, with a pristine airmass settling in behind the front and making it feel truly fall-like. Ahead of the front and near the surface low, heavy rain and strong thunderstorms are expected from eastern Kansas to Lower Michigan. Rainfall amounts of 1 to 3 inches are possible this weekend within this corridor, which includes the greater Chicago metro area. With an easterly wave passing across Florida and moving out over the Gulf of Mexico, easterly flow will bring deep moisture and instability across the Florida peninsula. Scattered to numerous showers and storms are expected over the weekend, with some locations getting rainfall totals in excess of an inch. D. Hamrick Graphics available at www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/basicwx/basicwx_ndfd.php