Short Range Forecast Discussion NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD 402 PM EDT Mon Mar 12 2018 Valid 00Z Tue Mar 13 2018 - 00Z Thu Mar 15 2018 ...A Nor'easter is expected to bring blizzard conditions across southeastern New England on Tuesday... ...Unsettled weather moving into the western U.S. with heavy snow along the Sierras... Computer models are finally coming into close agreement that a Nor'easter will spread significant snowfall tonight into Tuesday from northern Mid-Atlantic through New England as the center of the storm is forecast to pass around 200 miles southeast of Cape Cod early Tuesday morning. Unlike the previous couple of storms, this Nor'easter poses a bigger threat for heavy snow and high winds closer to southeast New England coastal areas. As the storm center passes to the east and southeast of New England on Tuesday, potential exists for mesoscale heavy snow bands to form near the coast, leading to bursts of heavy snow along with very gusty winds, which will likely lead to blizzard conditions should these mesoscale bands form. Very cold air will then pour into the eastern U.S. behind the storm, leading to very cold temperatures for March to continue into mid-week all the way down to Florida. With a blocking pattern remaining in place across the high latitudes, the center of the Nor'easter will not stray too far to the east of Maine after making landfall across Nova Scotia on Wednesday. This will keep the snow and snow showers in place over much of New England on Wednesday near a trough of low pressure. Across the western U.S., unsettled weather is in store through mid-week as an energetic frontal system and upper-level trough from the Pacific move onshore. The Sierra Nevada will stand the best chance for heavy snow over the next couple of days as moisture from this frontal system continues to penetrate well inland, reaching the Intermountain and Great Basin on Wednesday and possibly the Tetons by Wednesday evening. The lower elevations of California will see the best chance of moderate to heavy rain on Wednesday as a smaller scale low pressure system approaches from the Pacific. The mid section of the country will be sandwiched between the departing Nor'easter and the western U.S. trough. Under a protective high pressure system, weather should remain fine through Wednesday. Temperatures will rebound quickly on Wednesday with highs approaching 20 degrees above normal over the central High Plains. Kong Graphics available at www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/basicwx/basicwx_ndfd.php