Short Range Forecast Discussion NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD 237 PM EST Wed Nov 06 2013 Valid 00Z Thu Nov 07 2013 - 00Z Sat Nov 09 2013 ...Rain likely for the eastern third of the Nation... ...Precipitation on the increase across the Pacific Northwest and Northern Rockies... A broad upper level trough will make its way across the eastern half of the nation through the forecast period, pushing a cold front from the Ohio Valley/Lower Mississippi Valley towards and off the East Coast by Thursday evening. Ahead of the front, plenty of moisture will stream northward from the Gulf of Mexico allowing for the development of widespread light to moderate rain in the Ohio/Tennessee River Valleys tonight, and moving into the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern states by Thursday. Behind the front, cooler and dryer air will be ushered in, bringing temperatures back to near or below normal values for this time of the year. Precipitation will be on the increase across the Pacific Northwest and Northern Rockies this week as an upper level system pushes a surface front onshore by Thursday afternoon. The surface low attached to the front is forecast to intensify, bringing light to moderate organized rainfall to portions of Washington and Oregon, as well the the higher terrain of the Northern Rockies. Temperatures should remain relatively warm, which confines any snowfall to the higher elevations of the Cascades and well as the Northern Rockies. As the low moves onshore, gusty winds will be possible across the Pacific Northwest on Thursday. Elsewhere, the central US remains quiet through the work week, but should see a rise in temperatures as the Pacific front makes its way toward the region. Across the great lakes, some very light lake effect rain/snow is possible as northwesterly winds blow across the cold lakes. Monarski Graphics available at www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/basicwx/basicwx_wbg.php