Short Range Forecast Discussion NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD 323 AM EST Wed Jan 03 2018 Valid 12Z Wed Jan 03 2018 - 12Z Fri Jan 05 2018 ...Heavy snow possible for the Mid-Atlantic Coast northward to New England Coast... ...Snow/rain and freezing rain possible for the Southeast Coast... ...Heavy lake effect snow for the Upper Great Lakes... A rapidly deepening area of low pressure just off the East Coast of Florida will move northeastward to the Canadian Maritimes by Friday. The storm will produce areas of snow and rain/freezing rain along the Southeast Coast through last Wednesday evening. As the storm continues to move northeastward, snow and rain will develop over parts of the Southern Mid-Atlantic Coast that will change over to all snow by Thursday morning. The snow may be heavy over parts of the Southern Mid-Atlantic Coast overnight Wednesday. In addition, by early Thursday morning, snow will begin to develop over parts of New England and expand into Northern New England by Thursday afternoon continuing into Friday morning. The snow may ve heavy at times over New England. The snow will end over the Mid-Atlantic by Thursday evening. Additionally, some areas of rain and thunderstorms will develop over parts of Southeast Florida on Wednesday into Wednesday evening. Meanwhile, a front over the Great Lakes to the Middle Mississippi Valley then extending northwestward into the Northern High Plains and move into the Lower Great Lakes/Ohio Valley to the Lower Mississippi Valley by Wednesday evening. The associated area of low pressure will be absorbed into the greater circulation around the rapidly deepening coastal storm over the Northeast by Thursday morning as the associated front dissipates, too. The system will produce snow over the Great Lakes on Wednesday moving into the Lower Great Lakes by overnight Wednesday. In the wake of the storm lake effect snow will develop downwind from the Upper Great Lakes overnight Wednesday into Friday. The lake effect snow will be heavy at times during this time period. Elsewhere, a weakening upper-level low off the California Coast over the Pacific will move northeastward into the Pacific Northwest by Thursday morning into Friday. The energy will also bring moisture into the West Coast on Wednesday into Friday. Rain will begin to develop over parts of the California Coast by Wednesday evening. The rain will expand northeastward into the Pacific Northwest overnight Wednesday continuing into Friday. The rain will end over Southern/Central California by Thursday morning. Key Messages: East Coast Winter Storm 1. This winter storm is forecast to bring the potential for a mix of freezing rain/sleet/snow from portions of northern Florida to North Carolina, and snowfall northward along portions of the Mid-Atlantic into northern New England. Blizzard conditions are possible across portions of eastern New England late Thursday. 2. If this winter storm tracks closer to the coast, it could mean more snow while a track farther east could mean less snow. 3. This system has the potential to produce strong, damaging winds possibly resulting in downed trees and/or power outages. 4. Minor to moderate coastal flooding/erosion is possible due to a combination of high tides and wave action, especially Thursday afternoon, January 4. 5. Winter Storm Watches and Warnings are in effect from north central Florida northward through eastern New England. Ziegenfelder Graphics available at www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/basicwx/basicwx_ndfd.php