Short Range Forecast Discussion NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD 500 PM EDT Tue Oct 21 2014 Valid 00Z Wed Oct 22 2014 - 00Z Fri Oct 24 2014 ...A coastal low pressure system is expected to bring gusty winds and periods of heavy rain to New England... ...Moderate to heavy rain is expected to linger in the Pacific Northwest and northern California... ...Scattered showers and thunderstorms will move across the Plains... Over the next few days, a prominent coastal low pressure system will remain on our weather map in the northeastern U.S. This Nor'easter type system will be slow to intensify and will be slow to move out of the New England area. Intermittent rain today is expected to become more widespread and heavier by later on Thursday and into Friday. Up to a few inches of rain could have fallen by Friday in the coastal areas of Maine. In addition, winds will increase and seas will become rough as the storm gradually intensifies just off the coast. Over the western U.S., a moisture-rich cold front continues to approach the Pacific Northwest. It appears that moderate to heavy rain will move slowly inland across Washington and Oregon, spreading into northern California by Thursday. More than a few inches of rain is forecast along the coastal sections and into the Cascades where excessive rains could lead to flash flooding. Between these two main weather systems, a cold front is moving across the mid-section of the country. Moisture associated with this front is some deficient. Showers and thunderstorms are expected to be more scattered in nature as they slowly advance eastward reaching the Upper Midwest, mid-Mississippi Valley and the southern Plains by Friday. Kong Graphics available at www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/basicwx/basicwx_wbg.php