Short Range Forecast Discussion NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD 251 PM EST Thu Jan 05 2017 Valid 00Z Fri Jan 06 2017 - 00Z Sun Jan 08 2017 ...Wintry mix possible across the Southeast with snow especially across the Carolinas... ...As snow winds down across the West, another system will impact California and the Pacific Northwest this weekend... Winter will arrive across the Southeast and the Carolinas this weekend--bringing snow, ice, and cold temperatures across these regions. South-southwesterly winds across the western Gulf coast will bring a plume of moisture across the Gulf coast while an Arctic front moves across Texas and into the Gulf. Meanwhile, the surface low associated with this front will move from southeast Texas toward the Central Gulf Coast--bringing with it widespread precipitation across the coastal areas and Lower Mississippi Valley/Southeast on Friday. As this system moves east, precipitation along the coast will be light to moderate rainfall. From North Texas, across the northern parts of the Lower Mississippi Valley, Tennessee Valley, and Central Appalachians: these areas will receive snowfall. In between those regions and the coast, wintry mix and ice will be possible--especially across the midsection of the Southeast and the eastern portions of the Carolinas. By Saturday, the surface low will have crossed Florida and will skirt the Georgia/Carolina coastlines, bringing more wintry precipitation and rain in these areas and the southern portion of the Mid-Atlantic. The heaviest snowfall will be expected to fall from the southern Appalachians to southeastern Virginia. As surface low will quickly move away from the East Coast, most precipitation will begin to taper off by Saturday evening. Expect some lingering snow along the North Carolina/Virginia coastal areas. As the Arctic front continues to shift southward across the Great Basin and central/southern Rockies through Friday morning, heavy snow will continue to impact the Rockies with lighter snow in the higher elevations of Arizona and Utah. Once the front moves into northern Mexico by Friday afternoon, Pacific moisture that was supplying this system will be cut off and precipitation will come to an end. However, by Saturday, onshore winds will bring yet another round of copious Pacific moisture to the West Coast. Precipitation will become widespread by Saturday afternoon and will deliver more heavy snow across the Sierras in addition to the Cascades and northern Rockies. Furthermore, wintry mix, including light ice accumulations, can be expected across the Pacific Northwest and the central Intermountain West. Heavy rain along the California coast and in the Valley can be expected on Saturday also. This heavy rain could lead to flooding issues. Expect this event to continue throughout the weekend and into the beginning of next week across the Pacific Northwest and northern California. Please see WPC's winter weather forecast and discussion for detailed information on both of these events. Reinhart Graphics available at www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/basicwx/basicwx_ndfd.php