Short Range Forecast Discussion NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD 300 AM EST Wed Feb 19 2025 Valid 12Z Wed Feb 19 2025 - 12Z Fri Feb 21 2025 ...Winter storm continues to bring a quick round of accumulating snow from the Mid-Mississippi Valley through the southern Mid-Atlantic today with areas of sleet/freezing rain just to the south, and areas of heavy rain near the Gulf Coast... ...Record cold temperatures will settle south toward the Gulf Coast through the next couple of days while dangerously cold wind chills over the northern Plains will begin to moderate... ...Another round of mountain snow and lower elevation rain moving into the Pacific Northwest today will spread into the northern and central Rockies Thursday into Friday... As a large arctic high pressure system continues settling southward into the eastern two-thirds of the country, a low pressure system is developing just off the Gulf Coast along the arctic frontal boundary. Areas near the Gulf Coast are expected to see a round of moderate to heavy rain as the developing system passes just to the south. Some thunderstorms are also expected to move across northern Florida later today into tonight with the passage of the cold front. In addition, a swath of snow well to the north of the system will quickly spread east from the Mid-Mississippi/Tennessee Valleys this morning before moving through the southern Mid-Atlantic region this afternoon into tonight. A few to locally 8+ inches of new snow can be expected in these areas especially across southeastern Virginia into northeastern North Carolina as the low pressure system begins to rapidly intensify just off the Carolina coastline this evening. The cyclone will then quickly move away from the East Coast, ending the threat of additional accumulating snowfall for the Mid-Atlantic coast by early on Thursday. Areas of sleet/freezing rain are also expected just to the south of the swath of snowfall from the interior Deep South this morning to the coastal plains of North Carolina this afternoon into early this evening. Behind the departing cyclone, the core of the arctic air will be ushered across the Ohio Valley on Thursday reaching into the Mid-Atlantic early on Friday. Scattered snow showers will move through these areas in the process along with falling temperatures. Wind chills will be at dangerously cold levels this morning over the northern Plains as a 1050+ mb high pressure system edges closer. Below freezing temperatures will also reach into the Gulf Coast with record cold temperatures stretching from the central Plains down to the Gulf Coast. As the high pressure system slides southeastward, temperatures will progressively moderate over the next couple of days. Nevertheless, much colder than normal conditions will dominate the eastern two-thirds of the country. Be sure to dress in layers including a hat, face mask, and gloves if you must go outside! Meanwhile, lake-effect snow will once again impact the Snow Belt region downwind from the Great Lakes. Another round of unsettled weather associated with a Pacific system is now entering the Pacific Northwest, bringing a period of moderate to locally heavy rain near the coast and snow for the higher elevations. The precipitation will move well inland, passing Idaho and the northern Great Basin today, before reaching into the northern to central Rockies on Thursday as mountain snows and then gradually tapers off. The Southwest will remain dry through the forecast period. Kong Graphics available at https://www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/basicwx/basicwx_ndfd.php