Short Range Forecast Discussion NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD 256 PM EST Sat Dec 02 2017 Valid 00Z Sun Dec 03 2017 - 00Z Tue Dec 05 2017 ...Pacific storm system to bring rain/snow and much colder temperatures to the Northwest through the weekend... ...Accumulating snow expected for the Dakotas into Minnesota on Monday... ...Temperatures to fall below average behind strong cold front from western to central U.S... Changes are underway across the Pacific Northwest as a developing cold front nears the coastline. Ongoing coastal rain and higher elevation snow will spread inland overnight tonight reaching western Montana and Wyoming Sunday morning as the storm system moves east. Precipitation over inland locations of the Northwest will be a mixture of rain and snow, changing over to all snow except for the lowest elevations which will remain all rain. The higher elevations of Idaho into western Montana and northwestern Wyoming will stay all snow with these locations receiving 6 to 12+ inches of snow by Monday afternoon. The storm system will be a relatively quick mover which will limit rain/snow totals to some degree but much colder air will rush in behind an associated strong cold front. Ongoing above average high temperatures from the West to the Great Plains will fall to 5-10 degrees below average after the frontal passage. As the associated area of low pressure reaches the central/northern Plains Monday morning, it will strengthen into the evening with an expanding area of snow to its northwest. Winds will also increase across the Dakotas into the Upper Midwest from the north with gusts up to 40 mph possible by later in the day Monday with impacts to travel possible. Tranquil, relatively warm weather will continue in advance of this storm system with not much coverage of precipitation. Scattered showers and thunderstorms are expected on Sunday across the Coastal Plain of Texas and on Monday, scattered showers are expected ahead of the cold front. A narrower line of showers/thunderstorms will be possible with the cold frontal passage later in the day on Monday as well. Otto Graphics available at www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/basicwx/basicwx_ndfd.php