Short Range Forecast Discussion NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD 354 PM EST Tue Dec 08 2015 Valid 00Z Wed Dec 09 2015 - 00Z Fri Dec 11 2015 ...Heavy rain possible over the Pacific Northwest, Northern California and northern portions of the Intermountain West... ...Snow for parts of the Northern Cascades, the Sierras Nevadas and the higher elevations of the Northern/Central Rockies... An active pattern over the Gulf of Alaska will keep a vast portion of the Pacific Northwest wet and unsettled over the next few days. A deep layer of moisture will stream inland as a series of fronts develop and track across the Northwest. Widespread rain is expected from the Pacific Northwest south to Northern California and east into Northern and Central Rockies. Numerous Flood watches and advisories are in effect across Washington and northern Idaho. Excessive rainfall will likely occur over the Northern Cascades and Northern Rockies through Wednesday morning and over southwest Oregon/northern California Wednesday into Thursday morning. Snow will develop over the higher elevations of the Northern Cascades, the Northern/Central Rockies and the Sierra Nevadas through Friday morning; some locations may pick up 1 to 3 feet. High winds will accompany these fronts and will likely increase the impacts of the impending snow on the lee-side of the mountain ranges of the Great Basin and Intermountain West. The Plains and Upper Midwest will have a developing system to bring scattered rain from the Great Lakes to Middle Mississippi Valley Wednesday and Thursday. The Northern Plains and Upper Midwest will have scattered to widespread rain that will transition to mixed precipitation, or mostly snow, by late Thursday as colder air surges into the area behind the front. Accumulations are forecast to be on the light side for this region. Additionally, a lingering front near the southern tip of Florida will aid in producing light rain over Southern Florida through Thursday . Campbell Graphics available at www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/basicwx/basicwx_wbg.php