Short Range Forecast Discussion NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD 359 PM EST Fri Feb 28 2014 Valid 00Z Sat Mar 01 2014 - 00Z Mon Mar 03 2014 ...Drought relieving heavy rains and mountain snows will continue over California... ...Another surge of Arctic air will set the stage for a widespread winter weather event across the Middle Mississippi and Ohio Valleys later this weekend... ...Strong winds and upslope snows expected over the Northern/Central Rockies and adjacent High Plains... The onslaught of precipitation will continue across California as a strong Pacific front progresses inland over the Western U.S. Friday evening. Precipitation will spread eastward with the boundary while it pushes out through the Four Corners region...and ample Pacific moisture getting pulled into the system will support moderate to heavy amounts across the southwestern corner of the Nation...especially given the help of the terrain. Snow levels will be relatively high with this event...but accumulations of over a foot will still be possible along the Sierras and Colorado Rockies. Accumulating snows are also expected over the higher elevations of the Mogollon Rim. Also...even as the front presses well inland...persistent onshore flow behind the surface boundary will allow the drought relieving rains to continue over Southern California through much of the weekend. Strong high pressure nosing down from western Canada will push yet another surge of anomalously cold Arctic air into the north central U.S....which should spread south and east through the Nation this weekend. Initially...a lack of moisture across the eastern two thirds of the Nation will limit precipitation to a few Light snow showers with the leading cold front while it crosses the Great Lakes Friday night into Saturday; However...as the energy from the Pacific system impacting California on Friday ejects out of the Southern Rockies on Sunday...the stage will get set for a widespread winter weather event. Increasing amounts moisture getting lifted out of the Gulf and overrunning the Arctic airmass in place will support a wide swath of snow and ice to the north of the frontal boundary stretched through the Middle Mississippi and Ohio Valleys. Elsewhere...high winds and upslope snows are expected with a strong pressure gradient set up along the Northern/Central Rockies and adjacent high plains. West of the Rockies...an increase in onshore flow will support rain and higher elevation snows over the Pacific Northwest this weekend. Gerhardt Graphics available at www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/basicwx/basicwx_wbg.php