Short Range Forecast Discussion NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD 352 AM EDT Wed Mar 14 2018 Valid 12Z Wed Mar 14 2018 - 12Z Fri Mar 16 2018 ...Evolving storm system from the Rockies to the Plains to bring widespread precipitation through Friday morning... Cold weather and snow showers are expected to persist over the northeastern U.S. through Thursday in the wake of the big nor'easter. Accumulating snow is likely from the central Appalachians to Maine, and some lake enhanced snow is also possible. Afternoon highs in the 30s and 40s are expected for much of the eastern U.S. on Wednesday, which is below normal by mid-March standards. A developing storm system crossing the Rockies on Wednesday is expected to emerge over the Plains by the end of the week. Widespread rain and higher elevation snow is likely for much of the western U.S. in association with this front and the accompanying upper level trough. Heavy snow is expected for the Sierra Nevada range, with amounts in excess of two feet possible for some of the higher ridges. California will also be receiving badly needed rain after a very dry February. Once this storm system reaches the Plains by Thursday night, a swath of moderate to heavy snow is possible north of the surface low from eastern Wyoming to South Dakota and Nebraska. Some mixed precipitation is also possible across portions of Nebraska and Iowa. Showers and thunderstorms are expected to increase in coverage by Friday morning from the central Gulf Coast to Missouri as Gulf of Mexico moisture surges northward ahead of the cold front. D. Hamrick Graphics available at www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/basicwx/basicwx_ndfd.php