Short Range Forecast Discussion NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD 258 PM EST Mon Feb 06 2017 Valid 00Z Tue Feb 07 2017 - 00Z Thu Feb 09 2017 ...Heavy rain and mountain snow will continue across the West over the next few days.... ...A developing system will bring precipitation to much of the eastern states.... ...Near record warmth possible through midweek across portions of the Southern Plains through the Mid Atlantic... Much of the lower 48 will be in an active, wet pattern through midweek. Warm, moist air streaming onshore the West Coast will interact with a strong surface low pressure system that is makes its way across the Intermountain West. Widespread mountain snow is expected to persist from the Cascades to the Central/Northern Rockies. Winter storm warnings and winter weather advisories remain in effect for these areas. The greatest rainfall amounts are expected from central California to coastal Washington, where 3 to locally 6 inches of storm total rainfall will be possible through this evening, especially over upslope regions - flood watches are in effect. A low pressure system tracking across the central US will strengthen as a cold Canadian airmass slides southeast into the northern and central High Plains. Warm Gulf air transporting northward ahead of the advancing front will help set the stage for strong to severe thunderstorm development. The Storm Prediction Center has much of the Lower Mississippi/Gulf states in a slight risk. Rain, possibly heavy at times, is forecast for much of the South, Southeast and Mid-Atlantic over the next few days. Further to the north, precipitation will likely fall as a wintry mix or all snow from the Upper Midwest, Great Lakes to the Northeast. Winter winter advisories are in effect from Pennsylvania to Maine. Additionally, a warming trend is expected for much of the East Coast - a few records may be matched or exceeded for both daily high temperatures as well as daily high minimum temperatures from the Southern Plains (Monday and Tuesday) to the East Coast (Wednesday). Campbell Graphics available at www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/basicwx/basicwx_ndfd.php