Short Range Forecast Discussion NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD 320 AM EDT Sat Oct 12 2019 Valid 12Z Sat Oct 12 2019 - 12Z Mon Oct 14 2019 ...Major snowstorm across the Northern Plains should slowly come to an end by Sunday... ...Subtropical Storm Melissa continues to bring coastal flooding, gusty winds, and rough surf to parts of the Northeast coast... ...Elevated to critical fire weather concerns continue across a small portion of Southern California on Saturday... An early season major winter storm continues across portions of the Northern Plains tonight though snowfall should gradually taper off on Saturday as the storm system slowly lifts into central Canada. However, strong and gusty winds will continue to bring areas of blowing snow, and dangerous travel and blizzard warnings remain in effect across eastern North Dakota into far western Minnesota. Behind this system, an anomalously cold air mass has settled in across much of the Central and Western states and a number of record lows are still possible this morning. Widespread freeze warnings are also in effect from the Southern Plains to the Upper Midwest. To the east, widely scattered showers are possible across the Northeast along the associated cold front on Saturday. Showers and thunderstorms may linger through the weekend from the Southeast to the Lower Mississippi Valley as the western portion of this boundary becomes stationary and eventually begins lifting north as a warm front. Meanwhile, Subtropical Storm Melissa continues to linger off the Northeast coast this morning and should slowly begin moving away from the coast through the weekend. Coastal flooding remains a threat today, along with gusty winds and rough surf. Out West, elevated to critical fire weather threats continue into Saturday for portions of the Los Angeles region but should subside by Sunday as an upper level trough approaches the region. Santorelli Graphics available at www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/basicwx/basicwx_ndfd.php