Short Range Forecast Discussion NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD 401 PM EDT Tue Mar 19 2024 Valid 00Z Wed Mar 20 2024 - 00Z Fri Mar 22 2024 ...Lake effect snow continues downwind of Lake Ontario, before a developing low pressure system spreads snowfall east into northern New England tomorrow... ...Light to moderate snow enters the northern Plains midweek and pushes into the Upper Midwest on Thursday... ...Shower and thunderstorm chances return to the Southern Plains and western Gulf Coast... Cool and breezy weather remains entrenched across the eastern half of the country as a secondary cold front over the Midwest reinforces the chilly airmass overhead. One consequence of the renewed northwest flow crossing over relatively warm lake waters will be additional lake effect snow showers focused downwind of Lake Ontario in New York, which will be further enhanced as a low pressure system crosses from southern Ontario, Canada towards Maine through early Thursday. The forecast continues to highlight Medium probabilities (40-70%) for at least 6 inches of snow through Thursday across portions of the Interior Northeast and New England. Gusty winds and below average temperatures are forecast in the system's wake, with highs only expected to reach into the 30s and 40s throughout the Great Lakes, Ohio Valley, and Northeast by the end of the work week. Over the nation's Heartland, snow potential will return to the Northern Plains and Rockies tomorrow morning as a stalling cold front interacts with favorable jet stream dynamics. Northwest Montana maintains the highest chances of seeing over 4 inches of snowfall (80%), although portions of the Northern Plains and Midwest could locally exceed 4 inches by Friday as a low pressure wave spins up along the aforementioned stationary front. Uncertainty remains on exactly where the heaviest snowbands may set up, but residents should remain weather aware and prepare for potentially difficult travel across the Upper Midwest between Thursday night and Friday morning. In the warm sector of the font, rain and thunderstorm chances return on Wednesday as an upper low lingering over the Southwest finally ejects eastward. A few isolated thunderstorms could turn severe over western Oklahoma and the Texas Panhandle, as well as south-central Texas. By Thursday, heavy rain may develop along the Texas and Louisiana Gulf Coast, which could lead to isolated flooding concerns. As far as the temperature highlights for the short term time period, lingering frost concerns remain across portions of the Southeast through tomorrow morning, although this cold snap is forecast to be short-lived as temperatures warm to near average by Thursday across the South. Meanwhile, above average temperatures are expected today across the central Plains and Northwest. A few daily temperature records remain possible today across the northern Great Basin and Pacific Northwest as thermometer readings soar into the 70s. Asherman/Snell Graphics available at https://www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/basicwx/basicwx_ndfd.php