Short Range Forecast Discussion NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD 359 PM EST Wed Feb 26 2014 Valid 00Z Thu Feb 27 2014 - 00Z Sat Mar 01 2014 ...Much needed precipitation expected for drought stricken California... ...Arctic air will hold strong over the eastern two thirds of the Nation... Widespread precipitation will continue to spread inland over the Western U.S. as an upper ridge breaks down and a strong Pacific system makes its way onshore. A rich supply of Pacific moisture will keep the brunt of the action over drought stricken California Wednesday night into Thursday. Some much needed soaking rains are expected along the coastal areas...but the hefty amounts of moderate to heavy rains could also lead to a threat for flash flooding. Farther inland...snowfall accumulations in excess of a foot will be possible along the higher elevations of the Sierras. Activity over California should settle a bit on Thursday while the system pushes through the Great Basin...but an upstream Pacific storm approaching the West Coast will bring another round of widespread precipitation into California by Friday. As the energy from the initial Pacific storm impacting the West ejects out of the Rockies on Friday...precipitation is expected to break out over the Central Plains and Middle Mississippi Valley. Amounts should be on the lighter side...but a winter mix will be possible within the northern edge of the precipitation shield. Farther north...a tightening pressure gradient between strong high pressure in Canada and low pressure out West should lead to strong winds and upslope snows along the Northern/Central Rockies. Temperatures will remain below normal beneath a large upper trough carved out over the eastern two thirds of the Nation. Locations from the Central/Southern Plains to the Mid-Atlantic should see a bit of a warm up on Thursday...but a cold front dropping down through the north central U.S. will bring another reinforcing shot of arctic air to the Midwest and Great Lakes...which is expected to spread south and east on Friday. Precipitation will be rather sparse in the East...with the exception of some light snows across the Great Lakes and Northeast. In addition...shower and thunderstorm activity will continue along a frontal boundary slowly sagging southward through Florida. Gerhardt Graphics available at www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/basicwx/basicwx_wbg.php