Short Range Forecast Discussion NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD 334 PM EST Tue Dec 02 2014 Valid 00Z Wed Dec 03 2014 - 00Z Fri Dec 05 2014 ...A wintry mix of precipitation is possible from the northern Mid-Atlantic into New England... ...Much needed heavy rain continues for portions of drought-stricken California... A surface boundary will lift slowly northward as a warm front across the Mid-Atlantic this evening while remaining quasi-stationary across the Tennessee Valley and the deep south. North of the warm front, an area of sleet and freezing rain will continue to move through the northern Mid-Atlantic region tonight and into interior New England by early morning Wednesday. Snow is also possible across northern New England along the northern fringe of the precipitation shield, as well as downwind of the upper Great Lakes underneath the upper-level trough. The wintry precipitation across the northeast will transition to rain during the day on Wednesday as a surface wave in the Tennessee Valley lifts slowly northeastward and warmer air filters in. Some light rain showers are also possible across the central and southern Appalachians along the front itself. Meanwhile, a weakening upper low off the California coast will continue to stream copious amounts of moisture into California bringing much needed heavy rain to the drought-stricken state this evening and throughout the day on Wednesday. WPC has highlighted a few small areas of concern for flash flooding along favorable upslope portions of the southern and northern California mountains. In the highest elevations of the Sierras, heavy snow will be possible. As the remnants of the system move onshore, light to moderate precipitation is expected to develop across portions of the Great Basin and the Southwest this evening, and eventually the Intermountain West by Wednesday afternoon. By Thursday, the precipitation across the Southwest and Great Basin becomes mostly confined to the higher terrain, and precipitation moves into portions of the Northwest, and the northern and central Rockies. Santorelli Graphics available at www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/basicwx/basicwx_wbg.php