Short Range Forecast Discussion NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD 251 AM EST Wed Jan 18 2017 Valid 12Z Wed Jan 18 2017 - 12Z Fri Jan 20 2017 ...Stormy weather for the Pacific Northwest and extending southward over California, and heavy rain remains likely for the Gulf Coast... The low pressure system currently over the Northeast U.S. Wednesday morning will continue tracking eastward and out to sea. Patches of light rain and snow are expected across New York and New England through Wednesday. Winter weather advisories are in effect from eastern New York to New Hampshire, and winter storm warnings across parts of New Hampshire and Maine where the greatest snow totals are expected. Improving weather conditions are expected by Thursday as the storm moves well offshore by then. Heavy rain and thunderstorms will remain in the forecast across the Deep South through Thursday as the southern portion of the cold front stalls out and a new surface low develops along it. The highest rainfall totals are anticipated from southeast Texas to Tennessee, where a few inches of additional rainfall is possible. Some strong thunderstorms are also likely and could produce localized flooding. The weather pattern across the Pacific Northwest has become quite active again with heavy rain and mountain snow, compliments of strong onshore flow from a strong low pressure system west of the Washington coast. This storm will also provide California and much of the Intermountain West with significant precipitation, with the heaviest rain expected for the coastal mountain ranges from northern California to Washington. Strong and gusty winds are also likely near the coast and for the higher elevations. D. Hamrick Graphics available at www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/basicwx/basicwx_ndfd.php