Short Range Forecast Discussion NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD 256 PM EST Sun Feb 5 2017 Valid 00Z Mon Feb 6 2017 - 00Z Wed Feb 8 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 couple of days as a strong cold front makes it way across the Intermountain West. Widespread mountain snow is forecast from the Cascades to the central and northern Rockies, and mountain ranges in between. Snowfall amounts in excess of one to two feet are possible, especially across the Sierra and Cascades. Winter storm watches and warnings are in effect for these areas. The greatest rainfall amounts are expected from central California to western Washington, where 3 to locally 6 inches of rainfall will be possible through Monday, especially over upslope regions. 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 thunderstorms to develop northward from the central Gulf Coast to the Ohio Valley. Snow and mixed precipitation can be expected on the northern periphery of this low from Minnesota to northern New England. A warming trend is in store for much of the East Coast for the beginning of the work week as the warm front lifts northward ahead of the surface low pressure system. Hamrick Graphics available at www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/basicwx/basicwx_ndfd.php