Short Range Forecast Discussion NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD 305 PM EST Fri Feb 06 2015 Valid 00Z Sat Feb 07 2015 - 00Z Mon Feb 09 2015 ...Heavy rains expected for much of the West Coast... ...Well above normal temperatures expected for the central Plains into the Mid-Atlantic... Widespread heavy rain is expected to continue through the weekend for much of the west coast states and into the northern Rockies as a persistent plume of moisture streams onshore. Significant rain totals are expected, especially for the upslope sides of the coastal ranges as well as the Sierra Nevada. With the associated very high rain rates, flash flooding will be a threat across the higher terrain of northern and central California, as highlighted by the WPC excessive rainfall outlook. Snow is also possible farther inland, but most of the accumulations should remain confined to the highest elevations. Weather across much of the rest of the U.S. should remain fairly quiet as we head into the weekend. A series of waves will set up an axis of snowfall to the north of a frontal boundary draped across the Midwest and into New England. Given the lack of moisture, accumulations should be fairly light with generally less than six inches expected. South of this boundary, from the Plains to the Mid-Atlantic, unseasonably warm temperatures are expected with temperature readings as much as 10 to 20 degrees above normal! Santorelli Graphics available at www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/basicwx/basicwx_wbg.php