Short Range Forecast Discussion NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD 142 PM EST Fri Mar 03 2017 Valid 00Z Sat Mar 04 2017 - 00Z Mon Mar 06 2017 ...Heavy snow possible over the Cascades, Sierras, Intermountain West... ...Much above normal temperatures for the Central and Northern Plains... ...Heavy rain and flash flooding possible across South Texas this weekend... A cold front will come ashore in the Pacific Northwest bringing rain and heavy mountain snows to the region. The front will be fairly slow in pushing eastward as the associated upper trough drops southward down the west coast. Onshore flow behind the front will direct moisture into the Coastal range, Cascades, and northern and central Sierras. The slow motion of the front will lead to a prolonged period of moderate to heavy snow in these areas as well as inland across the intermountain west. While the cold front is pushing across the Pacific Northwest, west to southwesterly flow over the Continental Divide will lead to a warming and drying trend across much of the Central and Northern Plains. Temperatures will soar to as much as 20 to 30 degrees above normal making it feel much more like spring. Strong high pressure will build over the Northeast leading to below normal temperatures, but those will moderate toward the end of the period as the warmth pushes east. Southern Texas could see a period of heavy rainfall on Saturday. A mid level shortwave will interact will a pool of above normal moisture over the western Gulf of Mexico sparking showers and thunderstorms. Locally heavy rainfall could lead to some flash flooding across South Texas. The rainfall and cloud cover will lead to below normal temperatures across Texas. Krekeler Graphics available at www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/basicwx/basicwx_ndfd.php