Short Range Forecast Discussion NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD 118 PM EST Mon Dec 10 2018 Valid 00Z Tue Dec 11 2018 - 00Z Thu Dec 13 2018 ...Heavy rain and mountain snow possible from portions of the Pacific Northwest to the northern Rockies... ...Warming temperatures expected for the Central U.S... The system which brought a major winter storm to portions of the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic regions over the past couple days should be coming to an end by this evening, with only a few scattered areas of lingering light rain or snow possible through early tonight. Farther north, a moisture starved low pressure system will cross the Great Lakes and portions of the Northeast tonight and Tuesday, bringing scattered areas of light snow. A cold front crossing the Rockies tonight will bring areas of relatively light snow. This system will also be rather moisture starved as it reaches the central U.S. on Tue, with a scattered and relatively light wintry mix of precipitation possible into Wednesday across portions of the northern Plains/Midwest. The front may also generate scattered thunderstorms across portions of the southern plains and lower Mississippi Valley Wed afternoon. An active weather pattern will remain in place across the Pacific Northwest over the next few days, with a relatively strong cold front approaching on Tue, spreading heavy rain and mountain snows inland. Areas of heavy snow associated with this system may also spread into the northern Great Basin and northern Rockies late Tue into Wed. The higher elevations of the northern Cascades may see snowfall accumulations of 2 or more feet through Wed, with 1-2 feet possible for portions of the northern Rockies). After a brief lull across the Pacific Northwest, another frontal system will approach late Wed, bringing another round of potentially heavy rain and mountain snow to the region. The contiguous U.S. will be largely cut off from any significant incursions of polar/arctic air during the short range, and high temperatures on Tue and Wed will range from 10 to 20 deg F above average across much of the central U.S. The Eastern Seaboard will remain chilly (highs 5 to 10 deg below average), although temperatures will slowly moderate through mid-week. Ryan Graphics available at www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/basicwx/basicwx_ndfd.php