Short Range Forecast Discussion NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD 256 AM EST Sat Feb 18 2017 Valid 12Z Sat Feb 18 2017 - 12Z Mon Feb 20 2017 ...Heavy rain and flooding persists across California... ...Snow possible for the Northeast this weekend... Intense rainfall rates and strong wind gusts have significantly affected portions of California since Friday. Various impacts observed so far with this Pacific storm system have included rapid runoff leading to rising creeks/streams, cars swept away in rushing flood waters, downed trees, mudslides/debris flows and sinkholes. Much of the state has flood watches and flood warnings in effect, especially for southern California, and will persist this weekend. Nearly continuous onshore flow is forecast through the weekend-- keeping California and portions of the Pacific Northwest in a very active, anomalously wet pattern. Mountain snow is forecast for Sierra Nevada range and for elevations above 5500ft in central Nevada-- winter storm warnings and winter weather advisories are in effect for these areas. Warm, moist air moving northward from the Gulf will help generate showers and thunderstorms across portions of the Southern Plains, Lower Mississippi valley and the Gulf Coast. The Storm Prediction Center has highlighted portions of north-central Texas favorable for strong, possibly severe, thunderstorm development on Sunday. Refer to the SPC webpage for additional information about the potential for severe weather. The higher elevations of New England could have snow, or a rain/snow mix, today as a front moves through the area. Light snow may linger into Sunday after the front has passed. For the central and eastern states, mild and dry conditions are expected this weekend. Campbell Graphics available at www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/basicwx/basicwx_ndfd.php