Short Range Forecast Discussion NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD 317 AM EST Fri Feb 19 2021 Valid 12Z Fri Feb 19 2021 - 12Z Sun Feb 21 2021 ...Light snow and freezing rain to linger across the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic through today... ...Central/Southern Plains begin to thaw out heading into the weekend... A much quieter weather pattern is in store for the CONUS over the next few days. The current system that is bringing snow and freezing rain to the Northeast and northern Mid-Atlantic, as well as rain and thunderstorms to the Southeast will taper off today while lingering snow showers will continue over much of the interior Northeast and New England through Saturday. A general area of 1-3 inches of additional snowfall is possible for the Northeast today, while places downwind of the Lower Great Lakes may receive between 4-8 inches of snow. Freezing rain impacts will be minimal. Meanwhile, snow will continue for the western mountains over the next couple of days as an upper-level disturbance moves through the region. Rain will impact the coast extending up from California through the Pacific Northwest. The northern Cascades could see over a foot of snow while parts of the Cascades, Sierra and Rockies may see between 6-10 inches of snow through Saturday. Winter Storm Warnings and Advisories are in effect for parts of the Cascades and Northern Rockies. An anomalously cold week across the Southern Plains will begin to come to an end this weekend as an approaching area of low pressure pulls warmer air northward out ahead of it on Saturday. Before that, widespread low temperature records may be broken tonight over parts of eastern Texas and the Lower Mississippi Valley as high pressure shifts into the eastern half of the country. Hard Freeze warnings are in effect for much of southern/eastern Texas, and the Lower Mississippi Valley. Temperatures will remain well below average for much of the central US today and much of tomorrow. Kebede Graphics available at www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/basicwx/basicwx_ndfd.php