Short Range Forecast Discussion NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD 322 PM EST Sat Mar 7 2015 Valid 00Z Sun Mar 8 2015 - 00Z Tue Mar 10 2015 ***Moderating temperatures across much of the country*** ***Widespread rain developing over the Gulf Coast region*** ***Remaining dry for the western U.S. through Monday*** After the relentless cold over the past few weeks, a welcomed pattern change is now evolving that will bring considerably warmer weather to much of the central and eastern U.S. for the weekend and early next week. The strong north-to-south flow from the Arctic has abated some, with the overall flow becoming less amplified and allowing milder airmasses over much of the country. The result will be temperatures near seasonal averages from the Plains to the East Coast, along with much less wintry precipitation. Across Texas and the Deep South, an upper trough approaching from northern Mexico and return flow from the Gulf of Mexico around a surface high to the east will advect moisture over Texas and then the Deep South by Sunday night. The increasing humidity and lift in the atmosphere will be favorable for widespread moderate to locally heavy precipitation to develop, especially over coastal regions of Texas and Louisiana. The potential exists for a few inches of rainfall by Monday afternoon. Some thunderstorms are also likely to develop. For the western U.S., the dry pattern is forecast to continue through Monday with high pressure remaining in place and generally suppressing any noteworthy rain or snow. Therefore, the drought continues for much of the region. D. Hamrick Graphics available at www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/basicwx/basicwx_wbg.php