Short Range Forecast Discussion NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD 359 PM EDT Fri Apr 06 2018 Valid 00Z Sat Apr 07 2018 - 00Z Mon Apr 09 2018 ...Heavy rain expected for the West Coast and parts of the Deep South through Saturday... Much of the south-central U.S. will have widespread rain through Saturday as a strong cold front advances south through the Lower Mississippi Valley/Southern Plains. Deep moisture from the Gulf will interact with this arctic air, creating a favorable setup for heavy rain capable of producing flooding. Additionally, severe weather can be expected from the from eastern Texas to Mississippi through Saturday morning, where the Storm Prediction Center has highlighted an enhanced risk for severe storms. The area of increased risk will shift to northern Florida to North Carolina Saturday afternoon and evening as the front progresses. Rainfall amounts of 1 to 3 inches, locally higher, are likely in this area. Moderate to heavy rainfall is expected across much of Virginia and North Carolina, with some snow possible for the central Appalachians. An ongoing atmospheric river event is spreading copious amounts of rainfall to the northern half of California and southwest Oregon and will persist trough Saturday. Several inches of rainfall are forecast, especially for the areas of higher terrain. Given the warm nature of this event, snow levels will be unusually high but will begin top lower by Saturday morning- transitioning to snow showers later on Saturday behind a cold front. Significant rainfall is also expected across much of Nevada and the Great Basin as the moisture streams inland. Campbell Graphics available at www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/basicwx/basicwx_ndfd.php