Short Range Forecast Discussion NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD 247 PM EST Mon Jan 08 2018 Valid 00Z Tue Jan 09 2018 - 00Z Thu Jan 11 2018 ...Potential for mudslides and other hydrologic issues along the California coast, especially where burn scars exist from previous wildfires... ...Widespread threat for freezing rain extends from the Atlanta metro area up to the Central Appalachians and Mid-Atlantic... ...Milder conditions to prevail over much of the country as arctic air retreats... An expansive swath of precipitation is spanning from the central Gulf Coast to the Northeast today as a pair of disturbances sweep through. The warm, moist air overriding the shallow cold airmass is resulting in widespread freezing rain and sleet, especially along the Central Appalachians and the Mid-Atlantic region. Hazardous driving conditions will quickly arise as precipitation freezes and accumulations on roads and bridges - particularly over untreated roads. Numerous Winter Weather Advisories are in effect from North Carolina to Pennsylvania and New Jersey. Heavy rainfall is expected over the next couple of days for southern California as a strengthening Pacific system pushes inland. Heavy rainfall should spread from north to south - with a broad area of 2 to 4 inches of rain is expected from coastal northern California down toward the Los Angeles basin. Local orographics could easily augment these amounts where favorable upslope flow will increase rainfall rates. A major issue will be the burn scar areas after a very active fire season to conclude the year 2017. These regions in particular will be susceptible to mudslides, debris flows, or other hydro logic issues given the heavy rainfall expected. Farther inland, the Pacific storm should be more wintry in nature as 12 to 18 inches of snow is likely over the southern/central Sierra Nevada ranges. Rain and snow will spread from the Pacific Northwest across the Northern and Central Rockies and into the adjacent High Plains as Pacific system tracks inland. Heavy snow will be possible for the higher terrain of Idaho, Montana and Wyoming. Temperatures across much of the CONUS will warm up to near, or above, seasonal average temperatures as the arctic airmass moderates. By Tuesday, high temperatures may exceed 20 degrees above climatology across the central/southern High Plains as readings move into the upper 60s to low/mid 70s. Campbell/Rubin-Oster Graphics available at www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/basicwx/basicwx_ndfd.php