Short Range Forecast Discussion NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD 242 PM EDT Sat Oct 15 2016 Valid 00Z Sun Oct 16 2016 - 00Z Tue Oct 18 2016 ...Heavy rain and high wind continue for the Pacific Northwest and northern California... ...Heavy snow possible for the higher elevations of the northern Rockies... ...Warmer than average temperatures in the central U.S. spreading east through Monday... A rapidly deepening low pressure center is quickly approaching the Washington coast bringing the potential for damaging winds and heavy rainfall across portions of the Pacific Northwest. Strong low level flow off the pacific intercepting the Coastal Range, Cascades, and northern Sierras will lead to periods of moderate to heavy rainfall today. Onshore flow behind the initial cold frontal passage will keep wet weather going along the coast from northern California to Washington into Monday though the focus for heavy rainfall will shift southward to Oregon and northern California after today. Further inland, anomalous moisture transported across the northern Rockies will interact with the higher terrain setting the stage for heavy snow across the higher elevations of Idaho and northwest Wyoming. The surge of warm and moist air off the Pacific will keep snow levels rather high. Southerly flow will send temperatures soaring across the central and eastern U.S. ahead of the cold front crossing the west. Above normal temperatures are expect for a broad region east of the Rockies into Monday. Light to moderate precipitation will be possible across the Great Lakes with the cold front passing Saturday and with the returning warm front on Sunday. Dry weather is expected elsewhere. Krekeler Graphics available at www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/basicwx/basicwx_wbg.php