Short Range Forecast Discussion NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD 340 PM EST Fri Nov 13 2015 Valid 00Z Sat Nov 14 2015 - 00Z Mon Nov 16 2015 ...Heavy rain expected for the Pacific Northwest... ...Below average temperatures expected for the central and eastern U.S... A long fetch of warm, moist air will stream into the Pacific Northwest region over the next few days. A cold front will push though Washington and Oregon before slowing and becoming quasi-stationary on this weekend. Long durations of rain, and at times heavy, is forecast for coastal areas. Snow is expected for the Olympic and Cascade ranges in the higher elevations during this time. A stronger area of low pressure located offshore on Saturday will be associated with an amplifying upper-level trough, which will help the cold front move quickly south Saturday night, spreading rain into much of California by early Sunday morning. Rainfall amounts across the Northwest will vary widely with terrain -- but 2 to 6 inches should be relatively common through Sunday evening, with higher rainfall totals in the Olympics and the Cascades. As the low deepens and cold air filters in, snow levels will decrease along the Cascades. Heavy snowfall amounts of 1 to 2 feet are forecast in northern portions of the Cascades in Washington. Snow will also spread across much of the Sierra Range and the northern Intermountain West by early Sunday. Much of the East will remain cooler through the weekend as an upper-level trough moves overhead. Rain and snow will continue across the Great Lakes and the Northeast tonight as a relatively strong upper-level disturbance and secondary cold front tracks through the region. Rain and snow will taper off by Saturday afternoon. High temperatures of 5 to 10 degrees below average are forecast for much of the eastern U.S. for Saturday. The airmass over the Desert Southwest and portions of the Southern Plains will regain some of its moisture once the surface high pressure shifts east of the Mississippi Valley. Scattered showers and thunderstorms may develop over these areas this weekend. Some of the storms may become strong over portions of Texas and Oklahoma Saturday evening and into Sunday. Campbell/Ryan Graphics available at www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/basicwx/basicwx_wbg.php