Short Range Forecast Discussion NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD 236 AM EST Thu Jan 12 2017 Valid 12Z Thu Jan 12 2017 - 12Z Sat Jan 14 2017 ...Drier conditions expected for the West Coast states by Friday, while the Southwest remains unsettled... ...Accumulating freezing rain possible on Friday from the southern plains to the mid-Mississippi valley... ...Above average temperatures expected today from Texas to the Northeast... The pattern will begin to change along the West Coast over the next couple days as the string of Pacific storm systems comes to and end and drier conditions prevail by Friday. Rain and mountain snow will continue across California for one more day today as the last low pressure system moves inland. Heavy snow will still be possible in the Sierras and the San Bernardinos into tonight, with locally heavy rain possible at the lower elevations. On Friday, the low pressure system will move into the interior Southwest, allowing much of the West Coast to dry out. A few lingering snow showers are possible in the Sierras Friday, but these should gradually wind down by late in the day. Across the interior Southwest, rain and snow showers will persist through Saturday as the low pressure system will be slow clear the area. Farther east, a cold front will usher a much colder air mass southward across the plains and mid/upper Mississippi valley today. The front is forecast to become stationary on Friday from the southern plains to the Tennessee valley. Showers and thunderstorms are expected along and ahead of the front from Texas to the Northeast. By Friday, moisture is expected to begin flowing farther north across the frontal boundary into the shallow cold air mass north of the front. This will allow for freezing rain to develop from portions of Oklahoma and northern Texas to the mid-Mississippi valley. Portions of this area could see significant ice accumulations through Friday night, with the potential for freezing rain also expanding east into portions of the Ohio valley and Mid-Atlantic by Saturday morning. Meanwhile, ahead of the cold front, unseasonably warm temperatures will prevail. High temperatures today are expected to be 15 to 30 degrees above average from Texas and the Ohio valley to the East Coast. Highs may reach into the 70s for some areas from Texas to the Southeast. On Friday, temperatures will once again be well above average, although over a smaller area as the cold front makes some forward progress. High temperatures on Friday are expected to be 10 to 20 degrees above average once again from southern Texas to the Southeast and southern Mid-Atlantic region. Ryan Graphics available at www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/basicwx/basicwx_ndfd.php