Short Range Forecast Discussion NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD 238 AM EST Sat Mar 05 2016 Valid 12Z Sat Mar 05 2016 - 12Z Mon Mar 07 2016 ...Heavy rain, heavy snow, and high winds expected for portions of the Western U.S... ...Above average temperatures expected for the central U.S through the weekend... A series of Pacific storm systems will affect the western U.S. through the next couple days, keeping unsettled weather conditions in place. One low pressure system will approach the West Coast by Saturday evening, with rain becoming more widespread through the day from central California northward into the Pacific Northwest. A few areas of thunder are possible as well. Heavy rainfall is expected, with 2 to 6 inches of rain possible for some areas through Monday morning. These heavy rainfall amounts could lead to flooding for some areas. Snow levels will start out relatively high, with only the highest elevations of the Cascades and the Sierras receiving snow. By Sunday, however, snow levels will lower somewhat as the cold front moves into the Intermountain Region. Onshore flow will continue to produce precipitation, so snow is expected to become more widespread across the Cascades and especially the Sierras on Sunday. Heavy snow is possible for the Cascades, where snowfall totals of 1 to 4 feet are possible through Monday. Additionally, high winds are possible for portions of the Oregon and Washington coast, as well as interior portions of Oregon, California, and Nevada through early Sunday morning. Please refer to products issued by local NWS Forecast Offices for details specific to your area. As the low pressure system moves east on Sunday, mountain snow and valley rain will spread into the Rockies as well. By late Sunday, another Pacific low pressure system will approach the West Coast, once again increasing rain and mountain snow across the West Coast states. Farther east, a low pressure system will move across the Great Lakes on Saturday and into the Mid-Atlantic region by Saturday night. A mix of rain and snow will accompany this system across the Ohio valley and central Appalachians, will all snow farther north across much of the Great Lakes. Rain and snow will spread into the Mid-Atlantic region Saturday night as this system crosses the region. In general, precipitation associated with this system is forecast to be relatively light. The central Appalachians may receive a couple inches of snow. The low pressure system will move offshore Sunday morning, bringing and end to precipitation. Warm, spring-like temperatures will be in place across the central U.S. through the weekend. High temperatures on Saturday are forecast to be 15 to 25 degrees above average across much of the central and northern plains. These warm temperatures will continue into Sunday, with some of the same areas approaching 30 degrees above average. Ryan Graphics available at www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/basicwx/basicwx_wbg.php