Short Range Forecast Discussion NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD 325 AM EST Wed Nov 04 2015 Valid 12Z Wed Nov 04 2015 - 12Z Fri Nov 06 2015 ...Heavy snow possible across the higher elevations of the Intermountain West... ...Severe thunderstorms and flash flooding possible on Thursday and Friday for portions of the southern plains/Mississippi valley... ...Above average temperatures expected to continue for much of the central and eastern U.S... A robust low pressure system will emerge from the Intermountain West and advance through the Great Plains today. Widespread snow is forecast to continue for much of the Rockies and Great Basin throughout the day, while lower elevations will likely have a mix or all rain. 3 to 6 inches of snow possible for many areas. The heaviest snow is expected to fall across the Colorado Rockies, where up to 20 inches of snow will be possible at the highest elevations. Additionally, the relatively energetic nature of the storm system will promote strong, gusty winds across much of the west, with 30 to 40 mph winds expected, and gusts forecast to exceed 50 mph in some areas. The system will track through central portions of the CONUS on Thursday. Scattered to widespread rain will develop along and ahead of the front from southern Texas northward to Minnesota. The northern half of the system will move through the Upper Midwest/Great Lakes area Thursday night and into Friday. Rainfall amounts will generally be in the 0.50 to 1 inch range for the northern tier of the U.S, with a narrow swath of 1 to 3 inches spanning from the southern portions of the Rio Grande Valley to the Ohio River Valley. Conditions will be favorable for some of the thunderstorms to become severe. The Storm Prediction Center has highlighted a slight risk area for portions of the Southern Plains and Middle Mississippi Valley. Periods of intense rainfall may also occur with these storms, and in turn, elevate the risk for flash flooding. Additional snow will be possible across the northern Intermountain West on Thursday as a relatively fast-moving upper-level disturbance dives into the northwestern U.S. from British Columbia. Coastal areas of Northwest Washington, Vancouver and British Columbia are forecast to have 1 to 3 inches of moisture over the next three days. Central and eastern portions of the U.S. will continue to experience warmer and drier conditions under a vast area of high pressure. Numerous locations from the Northern and Central Plains east to New England will have high temperatures of 10 to 20 degrees above average for early November. The one exception to the dry conditions in the east will be the coastal southeastern U.S. where a weakening frontal boundary will linger, keeping scattered showers in the picture through Thursday. Campbell Graphics available at www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/basicwx/basicwx_wbg.php