Short Range Forecast Discussion NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD 256 AM EST Sat Dec 09 2017 Valid 12Z Sat Dec 09 2017 - 12Z Mon Dec 11 2017 ...Accumulating snow will end across the Southeast while increasing across the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast... ...Locally heavy lake effect snowfall to continue downwind of the Great Lakes... ...Critical fire weather persisting across southern California... A frontal boundary is currently off the East Coast and moving southward across Florida. Heavy rainfall will continue southward today along the cold front into South Florida. In addition, there is a marginal risk of severe weather for South Florida today--with the biggest threat being strong wind gusts from thunderstorms. See the Storm Prediction Center for more information. Meanwhile, snow will begin to taper off across the Southeast and the Carolinas by this morning. The primary surface low will take shape by this afternoon and lift northward off the Mid-Atlantic coast. This will bring precipitation--in the form of snow--northward into the Mid-Atlantic and coastal Northeast/New England this afternoon. As the low strengthens and lifts northward toward the Canadian maritimes by Saturday night, snow will quickly taper off the Mid-Atlantic while increasing across most of the Northeast. As the low moves farther north, snow will taper off--and will end by Sunday evening. A series of upper level disturbances will move over the Upper Midwest and Great Lakes over the next few days. Reinforcing shots of cold air over the Great lakes will give way to moderate to locally heavy snowfall downwind of the lakes. On Saturday, the heaviest snowfall is expected to occur along the UP of Michigan and the eastern shore of Lake Michigan as one disturbance moves over the region. The lake effect snow activity will shift to the lower Great Lakes on Sunday. By Monday morning, another disturbance will slide southward over the Upper Midwest. With cold conditions in place, the precipitation expected with this system will be snow. An upper ridge continues to be centered over the West--keeping in place the warm and dry airmass that has plagued southern California in addition to strong Santa Ana winds gusting over the region. This, combined with very low relative humidity, is creating very dangerous fire weather conditions which will continue at least through the next few days. Moreover, an inversion will keep smoke trapped across the region--leading to poor air quality. Please check with the local forecast office for more information on the warnings and advisories associated with this event. Reinhart Graphics available at www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/basicwx/basicwx_ndfd.php