Short Range Forecast Discussion NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD 523 AM EST Fri Jan 10 2014 Valid 12Z Fri Jan 10 2014 - 12Z Sun Jan 12 2014 ...Wintry mix across the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic states should gradually change to rain... ...Heavy rains and thunderstorms expected with a cold front crossing the central and eastern U.S. late this week... ...Strong Pacific storm moving onshore will bring high winds...heavy rains...and feet of snow to the northwestern U.S.... Damp and dreary conditions are expected across the Eastern Seaboard on Friday as widespread precipitation continues to develop to the northwest of a frontal boundary stretched along/just inland from the Atlantic Coast. Snow and freezing rain will initially be possible for many locations across the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic states...but as an arctic airmass in place gradually erodes...precipitation should eventually change to all rain by Friday night or early Saturday morning. Vigorous energy swinging out of the Rockies early in the period will help intensify a surface low while it tracks through the Central Plains/Middle Mississippi Valley on Friday and lifts through the Upper Great Lakes on Saturday. Snow is expected to the northwest of the surface low...and areas of freezing rain will be possible within precipitation developing to the north of an associated warm front surging through the Midwest; However...the main story with this system will be the heavy rains and thunderstorms firing up along the trailing cold front pushing through the Central and Eastern U.S.. A steady stream of Gulf moisture pulling northward ahead of the front should fuel an organized line of convection...which will pose a threat for flash flooding and severe weather...especially once the front crosses the Appalachians on Saturday. Just as shower activity quiets down over the Western U.S. on Friday...a strong Pacific storm moving onshore will bring another round of active weather across the northwestern U.S. this weekend. An onslaught of Pacific moisture...combined with favored orographics...should produce soaking rains along coastal areas from northwest Washington down into northern California...while snow will be measured in feet in some of the higher elevations of the Cascades and Northern Rockies. Also...widespread strong and gusty winds are expected across the area as the deep Pacific system comes ashore this weekend. Gerhardt Graphics available at www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/basicwx/basicwx_wbg.php