Short Range Forecast Discussion NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD 308 AM EST Sun Feb 05 2017 Valid 12Z Sun Feb 05 2017 - 12Z Tue Feb 07 2017 ...Heavy rain and mountain snow for the West over the next few days.... ...A developing system will bring precipitation chances to much of the eastern U.S. heading into the workweek... An active weather pattern will continue across the western U.S. over the next few days as deep Pacific moisture continues to move inland. An upper level low near the Pacific Northwest, along with a well-defined frontal zone, will provide additional lift and enhance precipitation amounts. The greatest rainfall amounts are expected from central California to western Washington, where 2 to locally 6 inches of rainfall will be possible through Monday. Heavy snow is likely for the higher elevations of the Sierra, Cascades, and the northern Rockies, with snowfall amounts in excess of one to two feet possible. Winter storm watches and warnings are in effect for these areas. A second low pressure system will pass just north of the Great Lakes and then New England through Sunday night. This will bring snow showers to much of the Great Lakes region and portions of upper New England during this time. For the remainder of the U.S., a strong area of high pressure will continue to exit towards the Atlantic Seaboard. Return flow on the backside of this high pressure system should bring moisture and scattered rain showers across the Deep South states today and tonight. Another low pressure system is expected to eject eastward from the central plains, strengthening as it combines with yet another low traveling across the north central U.S. by Tuesday. As this system pushes northeastward and continues to gain strength, expect rain and thunderstorm chances to expand northward throughout much of the Tennessee and Ohio River Valleys Monday through Tuesday. Snow and ice will also spread northward into the Upper Mississippi River Valley, Great Lakes region, and portions of the Northeast by Tuesday as well. Wix Graphics available at www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/basicwx/basicwx_ndfd.php