Short Range Forecast Discussion NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD 358 PM EST Wed Dec 09 2015 Valid 00Z Thu Dec 10 2015 - 00Z Sat Dec 12 2015 ...Heavy rain possible over the Pacific Northwest to Central California... ...Snow for parts of the Cascades, the Sierras, and the higher elevations of the Northern/Central Rockies... Multiple waves of energy will develop over the conus through the end of the work week. Strong upper-level flow, combined with surges of deep moisture, will keep much of the Northwest states rather wet and unsettled. One system will move over the Pacific Northwest and travel to the Great Lakes by Thursday night. A second system will move over the Pacific Northwest on Thursday morning move to the Northern/Central Rockies by Thursday evening. Several rounds of rain and higher elevation snow from the Pacific Northwest to Central California eastward to parts of the Northern/Central Rockies through Thursday evening. Excessive rain is forecast for northern California to southwest Washington through Thursday morning . Some areas could see additional amounts of 1 to 4 inches, with isolated totals up to 6 inches. Numerous flood watches, advisories and warning are in effect across the Pacific Northwest and northern Idaho. Winter weather advisories are effect for areas of higher terrain for portions of the Great Basin and Intermountain west. Additionally, a vast area also has high wind warnings in effect. 6 to 12 inches will be common for the ranges in Idaho, Montana, Wyoming and Colorado. 1 to 3 feet is forecast for the Cascades and the Sierras by Saturday. Meanwhile, energy over the Mississippi Valley will quickly move eastward. Light rain is forecast to span from the northern Plains/Great Lakes to the Northeast through Thursday. A second area of upper-level energy will move out of the Northern/Central Rockies late tonight and move to the Upper Great Lakes/Upper Mississippi Valley by Thursday evening. Light rain will accompany this system over parts of the Northern Plains tonight and will reach the Upper Great Lakes/Upper Mississippi Valley by Thursday. Moisture will slowly diminish over Southern Florida by Thursday evening/Friday morning. Campbell/Ziegenfelder Graphics available at www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/basicwx/basicwx_wbg.php