Short Range Forecast Discussion NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD 226 PM EST Fri Jan 01 2021 Valid 00Z Sat Jan 02 2021 - 00Z Mon Jan 04 2021 ...Impactful ice and snow to come to an end overnight across the Midwest and Great Lakes, while continuing throughout northern New England Saturday... ...Another round of wintry precipitation to enter the Northeast and Oho Valley later this weekend... ...More stormy weather for the Pacific Northwest with heavy lower elevation rains and heavy mountain snows throughout the Cascades and Northern Rockies... A very active and stormy weather pattern will prevail across portions of the U.S. as we ring in the new year. A low pressure system currently located over southern Illinois is forecast to move through the lower Great Lakes and New England with numerous winter weather-related hazards between tonight and Saturday. On the northwest flank of this storm system, a swath of snow and freezing rain is expected to stretch from the Midwest this evening to the interior Northeast by tonight and into the weekend. Over a quarter inch of ice accretion has already occurred today from southwest Missouri to northern Indiana. Most of the freezing rain that has yet to fall will do so across the interior Northeast tonight, where up to a quarter inch of ice is possible. As the low advances off toward New England and begins to strengthen on Saturday, heavier amounts of snow (up to twelve inches) is forecast for the interior sections of northern New England before the system moves away into the Canadian Maritimes Saturday night. Winter Storm Warnings, Winter Weather Advisories, and Ice Storm Warnings are in effect for the impacted areas. Behind this system, another area of low pressure is forecast to develop rapidly across the Southeast along a trailing cold front Saturday night. This system will bring additional thunderstorms across the Southeast and wintry precipitation into the Ohio Valley and Northeast by Sunday morning. Another light coating of freezing rain will be possible across the Interior Northeast, with a few inches of snow forecast across the region as well. Snow will extend into southern New England by Sunday evening. Across the Pacific Northwest and into the northern Rockies, the next in a seemingly unending series of Pacific cold fronts will arrive and drive strong onshore flow and moisture transport for heavy lower elevation rainfall and heavy mountain snows. In fact, portions of the Washington Cascades and the northern Rockies should see an additional one to two feet of snow going into the weekend. Coastal hazards, such as high surf and high winds, will also be a concern for the Pacific Northwest. Overall, central and southwest portions of the nation will see relatively mild temperatures this weekend as much of the air across the nation will be of Pacific origin, with a continued lack of Arctic air surging south from Canada. The exceptions to this will be across parts of the southern U.S., where clouds and precipitation will help keep temperatures a bit below normal. Happy New Year from all of us at WPC!! Snell Graphics available at www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/basicwx/basicwx_ndfd.php