Short Range Forecast Discussion NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD 219 AM EST Sat Jan 13 2018 Valid 12Z Sat Jan 13 2018 - 12Z Mon Jan 15 2018 ...Cold blast continues eastward today with sharply colder temperatures for the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast... ...Periods of heavy snow early this morning for northern New York/New England... ...Roller coaster ride of temperatures for the central to northern U.S. through Monday.. A strong cold front will continue moving through the Northeast today, followed by sharply colder temperatures in its wake. Twenty four hour temperature changes behind the cold front have ranged from 20 to 40 degrees from the Great Lakes to the Gulf Coast, and these dramatic changes will translate into the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast today. Temperatures will fall this morning behind the cold front and will not rise much during the day. Locally heavy rain for New England will change this morning to freezing rain and sleet followed by locally heavy snow on the back side impacting portions of northern New York into northern New England. The greatest threat for freezing rain ice accumulations is expected from southern New Hampshire into eastern Maine with up to a tenth of an inch accretion possible. The quick moving nature of the storm system will bring an end to the snow for most of the region by early afternoon. Across the northern Plains into Kansas and Missouri, high temperatures today will average 15 to 20 degrees below average but warning is expected for Sunday ahead of a cold front dropping down from Canada. Expect near to slightly above average high temperatures for Sunday anywhere from the central Plains to North Dakota and Montana. However, another strong cold front along with light snow will surge through the Plains by Monday morning bringing temperatures back below average. In fact, Monday's highs will be colder than Saturday's forecast with temperatures ranging between 15 and 30 degrees below average. Upper level ridging will dominate the pattern over the western U.S. through the weekend allowing for dry conditions with temperatures above average. A change in the pattern is anticipated starting Monday with the arrival of a cold front to the west coast along with rain from northern California into the Pacific Northwest. Otto Graphics available at www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/basicwx/basicwx_ndfd.php