Short Range Forecast Discussion NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD 358 AM EDT Sat Mar 17 2018 Valid 12Z Sat Mar 17 2018 - 12Z Mon Mar 19 2018 ...Continued cold and snow for the western U.S. this weekend... ...A wintry mix including freezing rain accumulations expected for parts of the Midwest/Ohio valley... ...Strong to severe thunderstorms possible for parts of the Central Plains and the lower Mississippi valley on Saturday, with a greater risk across some of the same locations for Sunday... ...Conditions to remain favorable for wildfires across portions of the Southern Plains through the weekend... Scattered to widespread snow across the West will begin to taper this weekend as the upper-level trough and surface cold front moves east from the Intermountain West out in the Plains. As the upper-level system moves east, smaller scale disturbances will remain over portions of the Pacific Northwest coast and Montana keeping the weather rather cold, cloudy and unsettled. Another system approaching the West Coast is shaping up to bring widespread rain to California early in the coming week. Rain, sleet, freezing rain and snow will spread across the Midwest, Ohio Valley, Central Appalachians and northern Mid-Atlantic regions as a winter storm system travels toward the East Coast. Snow amounts are forecast to be on the lighter side; however, ice accumulations up to, or exceeding 0.10 inch, will be possible. Winter Weather Advisories are in effect, spanning from central Iowa to northern Virginia. Snow is forecast to continue for portions of the Northeast as a reinforcing shot of cold air approaches from Canada. Moderate to locally heavy rain is expected to dwindle in intensity today as a cold front moves south into the Gulf Coast states before stalling on Sunday in advance of the next storm system to eject out into the Southern Plains. Strong to Severe thunderstorms are expected to develop along the front and again on Sunday as the next system approaches. The Storm Prediction Center has identified portions of the Central Plains and the Lower Mississippi Valley as having a slight risk for severe storms. Additionally, concerns for elevated fire danger will persist for the Southern Plains this weekend as gusty winds and low relative humidity is expected. Campbell/Otto Graphics available at www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/basicwx/basicwx_ndfd.php