Short Range Forecast Discussion NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD 250 AM EST Sun Feb 24 2019 Valid 12Z Sun Feb 24 2019 - 12Z Tue Feb 26 2019 ...Additional heavy snow expected for the Great Lakes and northern New England, with high winds becoming the main threat with the surface low... ...Heavy precipitation in the Northwest, including heavy rain along the Oregon/California coast and heavy snow in the mountains... The surface low pressure system that caused a myriad of hazardous weather in the U.S. over the past couple of days is moving into the Upper Great Lakes, and will continue tracking northeastward into Canada as a new surface low develops along the Northeast coast today. Additional snowfall of 6 to 12 inches is expected today in the Upper Great Lakes region before the low exits, and the developing low will help cause snowfall of 10 to 15 inches in northern Maine. Light freezing rain accumulations are possible in New England as well. Farther south into the Middle Mississippi Valley where snow has ended, blowing snow will continue today as strong winds develop. In fact, due to the strength of the low system creating a tight pressure gradient, as well as strong winds aloft, much of the eastern half of the U.S. is under a High Wind Warning or Watch or Wind Advisory today. The Eastern Seaboard will have a rainy Sunday morning before rain clears out by Sunday night, and the Lower Mississippi and Tennessee Valleys and Southeast will finally have a dry couple of days. A persistent atmospheric river will take aim at Oregon and northern California through the beginning of the week, as an upper-level trough drops slowly southward through the Pacific Northwest. This will lead to heavy precipitation in the Northwest. Along the southern Oregon and northern California coast, mainly heavy rain is expected, and there is a risk of excessive rainfall through Tuesday. However, there is a chance of snow even in the lower elevation cities (like Seattle and Portland) with the persistent cold conditions. Heavy snow is forecast for higher elevations--in the Oregon Cascades, snow of 4+ feet is possible over the next couple of days! The Sierra Nevada and Shasta ranges can expect 2 to 4 feet of snow, and so can the Sawtooth Mountains/Bitterroot range and Tetons/Wind River Mountains. Temperature-wise, a warm Sunday (10 to 20 degrees above average) is expected for the Eastern Seaboard ahead of cold fronts that will pass through and lead to more seasonable conditions on Monday. Record highs, mainly for high minimum temperatures, could be set particularly in Florida. Meanwhile, a cold high pressure system moving gradually into the Plains from Canada will lead to bitterly cold temperatures across the Northern/Central Plains today and additionally for the Upper Midwest on Monday. Temperatures of 20 to 40 degrees below average are forecast there, and record cold temperatures, especially low maximums, are expected. Tate Graphics available at www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/basicwx/basicwx_ndfd.php