Short Range Forecast Discussion NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD 203 PM EST Thu Feb 18 2016 Valid 00Z Fri Feb 19 2016 - 00Z Sun Feb 21 2016 ...Rain and high elevation snow to affect the Pacific Northwest and northern California... ...High winds expected for portions of the central and northern High Plains and portions of the Rockies... ...Above average temperatures expected to expand across much of the central and eastern U.S... Onshore flow continues to spread rain and high elevation snow into the Pacific Northwest and northern California this afternoon in the wake of the strong frontal system now crossing the Intermountain West/Great Basin. By late tonight into Friday, another Pacific frontal system will cause precipitation over these areas to become more widespread once again. Locally heavy rain will be possible, and snowfall amounts may exceed one foot at the higher elevations of the Cascades. The vigorous low pressure system crossing the Intermountain West and Great Basin regions this afternoon will quickly move east, moving into the northern and central High Plains by tonight. Snow will be possible across the higher terrain of the Rockies this evening before the system exits the region. As the system enters the plains, a mixture of light rain, snow, sleet, and freezing rain will be possible tonight across the northern plains and portions of the northern Great Lakes. As the system draws warmer air northward on Friday, rain and even a few thunderstorms will be possible across the Upper Midwest. High winds will be an additional hazard associated with this system as it crosses the Rockies and central/northern High Plains. A strong pressure gradient between the surface low moving into the plains and high pressure quickly building into the Rockies, along with the very dynamic nature of this storm system, will result in the potential for strong and gusty winds. Wind gusts may exceed 60 mph at times into Friday. Please refer to products issued by your local NWS Forecast Office for details specific to your area. This system will quickly move into the lower Great Lakes and the Northeast by late Friday into Saturday, spreading a wintry mix of precipitation types into these areas. The trailing frontal boundary from the system crossing the plains and Great Lakes will become stationary over the southern plains on Friday, before another wave of low pressure develops along the boundary Friday night. This wave of low pressure along the front will be responsible for scattered showers and thunderstorms across portions of the southern plains, Mid-Mississippi, Ohio, and Tennessee valleys on Saturday. Temperatures will be well above average across the central U.S. on Friday. High temperatures on Friday are forecast to be 10 to 25 degrees above average for many areas from the plains to the Great Lakes. These warm temperatures will begin to expand eastward on Saturday, with many areas along the East Coast expected to reach 10 to 15 degrees above average. Ryan Graphics available at www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/basicwx/basicwx_wbg.php