Short Range Forecast Discussion NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD 322 PM EST Sat Dec 12 2015 Valid 00Z Sun Dec 13 2015 - 00Z Tue Dec 15 2015 ...Strong storm system moving across the Great Plains... ...Pacific storm system to affect the western U.S... ...Near record warmth for much of the eastern U.S. this weekend... An area of low pressure is developing across the southern Plains Saturday afternoon, and this is forecast to lift towards the Great Lakes by Monday afternoon. Ahead of the trailing cold front will be a deep surge of moisture from the Gulf of Mexico, and this will lead to favorable conditions for heavy rain and some severe thunderstorms. On the back side of the surface low, expect a band of snow to develop from western Kansas to Minnesota. For the western U.S., another strong Pacific front will be making its presence known through Sunday. Widespread rain and wind are in the forecast for the coastal areas from northern California to western Washington, and snow for the higher elevations of the Cascades, Sierra Nevada, and the Intermountain West. Record temperatures will be making weather headlines from the Mississippi River to the East Coast this weekend ahead of the approaching storm system from the west. Sustained southerly flow around the Bermuda high offshore, combined with plenty of warm air aloft and an upper level ridge, will allow for temperatures to reach well into the 60s and 70s for daytime highs, with perhaps a few low 80s across the southeastern U.S. states. These readings are about 20 to 30 degrees above normal for mid-December! Hamrick Graphics available at www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/basicwx/basicwx_wbg.php