Short Range Forecast Discussion NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD 304 AM EST Fri Dec 28 2018 Valid 12Z Fri Dec 28 2018 - 12Z Sun Dec 30 2018 ...Flash flooding and a marginal risk of severe thunderstorms possible across portions of the Southeast to Mid-Atlantic... ...Significant winter storm to bring heavy snow and near blizzard conditions to much of New Mexico... The heavy snow leading to blizzard conditions across the northern Plains and the Upper Midwest will wind down this morning. Additional snow accumulations can be expected from central Minnesota to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan--with the highest accumulations expected along the north shore of Lake Superior in the Arrowhead of Minnesota. Furthermore, light snow accumulations can also be expected downwind of the lower Great Lakes over the next few days also. Farther east, heavy rainfall that impacted the lower Mississippi Valley yesterday will shift eastward today--with the heaviest amounts along the central Gulf Coast. Moderate to heavy rainfall will also impact areas from the Carolinas northward into the Mid-Atlantic today. There is a slight risk of flash flooding along the central Appalachians. The marginal risk of severe thunderstorms has been highlighted for the Southeast--see the Storm Prediction Center for more information. The New England region can expect mixed precipitation--with light snow and ice accumulations. This area is currently under winter weather advisories. A second winter storm underway is impacting parts of the Southwest and is expected to continue through Saturday afternoon. Snowfall will overspread the region from southern Colorado southward through eastern Arizona, New Mexico, and the panhandle of Texas. The heaviest snowfall likely across central and eastern New Mexico where as much as 1 to 2 feet is possible in the highest terrain. Strong winds will also accompany the snowfall, with blizzard conditions possible. After a short lull today and into tomorrow, another round of rain and higher elevation snows are expected to move into the Pacific Northwest beginning late Friday and into Saturday. The East Coast and central states will experience unseasonably warm temperatures with afternoon highs forecast to be as much as 10 to 20+ degrees above normal on Friday especially from the Ohio Valley into the Mid-Atlantic. Meanwhile, across the mountainous west and into the Plains, below to well below temperatures persist through much of the short range period with the greatest departures expected to be across the southern High Plains where daytime highs could be 20 to 30 degrees below normal. Reinhart/Santorelli Graphics available at www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/basicwx/basicwx_ndfd.php