Short Range Forecast Discussion NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD 245 PM EST Sun Dec 31 2017 Valid 00Z Mon Jan 01 2018 - 00Z Wed Jan 03 2018 ...A frigid start to 2018 east of the Rockies... ...Light wintry mix remains possible from Texas into the lower Mississippi valley through tonight... Dangerously cold temperatures will be in place tonight to ring in the new year for many locations located east of the Rocky Mountains. Locations across the Northeast and as far south as Kansas into Ohio will be below zero at midnight with wind chills of -20 to -40 for many of these locations. Therefore, locations from northeastern Montana into portions of the Midwest and Northeast are under a Wind Chill Warning with Wind Chill Advisories in place as far south as the central Gulf Coast through Monday morning. Monday's highs will stay below freezing for much of Texas to the Carolinas which is a good 20 to 30 degrees below average. Winter weather advisories are currently in effect for western and northern Texas as well as across the lower Mississippi valley where light accumulations of snow and freezing rain could cause slick conditions through Monday morning. Monday evening through Tuesday will be mostly dry across the lower 48 with the exception of rain showers for Florida and snow showers the Great Lakes. Snowfall accumulations downwind of the Great Lakes are expected to be locally heavier across the eastern U.P. of Michigan and east of Lakes Erie and Ontario where additional totals of roughly 6-12 inches are in the forecast through Tuesday evening. Needless to say, temperatures will remain well below average for most locations east of the Rockies into the middle of the week but some moderation is expected across the central and northern High Plains starting Tuesday with downslope flow developing. The Southwest will remain warm and dry into the middle of the week with temperatures ranging between 5 to 15 degrees above early January normals. Otto Graphics available at www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/basicwx/basicwx_ndfd.php