Short Range Forecast Discussion NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD 302 PM EST Tue Feb 23 2021 Valid 00Z Wed Feb 24 2021 - 00Z Fri Feb 26 2021 ...Series of storm systems to produce unsettled weather over the northern tier of the Lower 48 ... ...A mild Wednesday along East Coast, colder temperatures return to the Rockies and Heartland... ...High winds likely across the Northern Plains, Avalanche Warnings in the Northern Rockies... A quick moving storm system is producing periods of snow in the Upper Midwest this afternoon. This wave of low pressure races east towards the Great Lakes tonight with areas of snow and some wintry mix expected. Snowfall accumulations of 3 to 6 inches are forecast over the northern Great Lakes through Wednesday morning. By Wednesday afternoon, hit-or-miss showers look to develop along a lengthy cold front that extends from the South Central U.S. to the northern Mid-Atlantic. Meanwhile, periods of snow are possible out ahead of the storm over northenr New England that are likely to continue into Wednesday night. A passing cold front then supplies one more round of snow over northern New England before high pressure builds in from the west Thursday night. The higher elevations of northern New England; such as the Adirondacks, Green, and White mountains, could receive 3 to 6 inches of snow with locally higher amounts possible. To the West, a new Pacific storm delivers more valley/coastal rain and mountain snow to the Pacific Northwest on Thursday. Heavy snow will blanket the Cascades and Olympic ranges with totals as high as 1 to 2 feet. This same storm system is also responsible for a roller coaster temperature regime spanning from the Intermountain West to the East Coast. Ahead of the storm, abnormally warm temperatures are expected this evening with 60s and 70s spread out from the Southwest to the Deep South. By Wednesday, the warm sector of the storm reaches the Mid-Atlantic and Southeast where the same range of temperatures are likely to be observed. Above normal temperatures are also anticipated in the Northeast with highs approaching 50 degrees in spots. Temperatures could reach 80 degrees in parts of Florida by Thursday. Behind the storm, a cold front delivers a fresh injection of cold Canadian air into the Northwest, the Rockies, and central Plains on Wednesday. As the front plunges south, mountain snow is forecast to develop with accumulations up to a foot possible in the highest elevations of the Bitterroots and Colorado Rockies. Much below normal temperatures reach the southern Plains on Thursday with highs ranging between 15 and 25 degrees below normal. This frontal boundary will come to a halt and stall over the Deep South, setting the stage for areas of showers and thunderstorms to form over the Southern Plains and Lower Mississippi Valley Thursday night. Elsewhere, High Wind Warnings in portions of the Northern Plains will conclude this afternoon as strong wind gusts diminish this evening. Gusty winds may return to both the Northern Rockies and Plains on Thursday as a storm system strengthens in the Canadian Prairies. Also, Avalanche Warnings are in place in parts of the northern Rockies through Wednesday morning. Lastly, Red Flag Warnings have been posted for some counties in the central High Plains due to gusty winds and low humidity levels fostering a favorable environment for fire weather conditions this afternoon. Mullinax Graphics available at www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/basicwx/basicwx_ndfd.php