Short Range Forecast Discussion NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD 1238 PM EST Wed Feb 1 2017 Valid 00Z Thu Feb 2 2017 - 00Z Sat Feb 4 2017 ...Rain and mountain snow returns to the western U.S. for the end of the week... After several days of a rather uneventful weather pattern across most of the nation, things will begin changing for the West Coast going into Thursday. The western U.S. ridge will continue breaking down and allow for a slow moving Pacific storm system to work its way towards the Pacific Northwest coast and bring moderate to heavy rain back to areas from central California to western Washington. Parts of the coastal ranges could get a couple inches of rainfall by Friday night. Heavy snow is expected for the higher elevations of the Sierra and also for the northern Rockies, where amounts in excess of a foot appear likely for the higher elevations. Elsewhere across the continental U.S., broad cyclonic flow aloft will keep a cold and dry pattern in place for most areas. Lake effect snow is expected downwind of the Great Lakes, where snowfall amounts in excess of six inches are possible. Lake effect snow warnings are in effect east of Lake Ontario, where the greatest snowfall amounts are expected. Another area of precipitation in the form of rain is likely across portions of the southern U.S. in association with a surface low developing along a slow-moving cold front. This should be a relatively minor event with no widespread heavy rain or thunderstorms expected. D.Hamrick Graphics available at www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/basicwx/basicwx_ndfd.php