Short Range Forecast Discussion NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD 321 PM EST Thu Jan 16 2020 Valid 00Z Fri Jan 17 2020 - 00Z Sun Jan 19 2020 ...A strong storm will bring heavy snow to the Upper Midwest and rain/freezing rain to the Southern Plains into the Middle Mississippi and Ohio Valleys... ...Heavy snow for the Cascades and Sierra... ...Below average temperatures to persist for Northern Rockies/Plains and Upper Midwest... An upper-level low will amplify as it crosses the Central Rockies Friday morning. This will develop a strong surface low pressure system over the Central Plains that will track across the Midwest and into the Great Lakes through Saturday. This system will go on to produce snow, rain and freezing rain for much of the eastern half of the country. 4-8 inches of snow are likely for parts of the Upper Midwest, Great Lakes and the Northeast with isolated areas of a foot of snow possible downwind of the lakes. Freezing rain will extend from parts of the Southern/Central Plains across the Midwest and into the Mid-Atlantic/Central Appalachians. A tenth of an inch is possible for much of this area. A Slight Risk of Excessive Rainfall is in effect for the Mid-South extending from northeastern Oklahoma through Missouri and into central Illinois due to potential heavy rain associated with the cold front of the storm system. Heavy snow continues for the Sierra as the Pacific system continues crossing inland toward the interior West. Snowfall accumulations of 8-12 inches probable with isolated peaks reaching up to a foot and a half of snow. Another strong system will arrive in the Pacific Northwest Saturday morning bringing with it maritime moisture and the probability of more heavy snow to the Cascades and Olympic Mountains. 8-12 inches of snow for much of the Cascades with isolated areas of a foot and a half possible, while 1-2 feet of snow are expected for the Olympic Mountains. Warmer than normal temperatures will continue for parts of the Lower Mississippi/Tennessee Valleys and Southeast ahead of the Eastern U.S. storm system with temperatures being 15-25 degrees above normal through Saturday. Arctic air will descend back into the Northern Plains/Upper Midwest behind the Eastern U.S. storm this weekend as temperatures are likely to be 20-30 degrees below normal in some places. Kebede Graphics available at www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/basicwx/basicwx_ndfd.php