Short Range Forecast Discussion NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD 405 PM EDT Sat Apr 07 2018 Valid 00Z Sun Apr 08 2018 - 00Z Tue Apr 10 2018 ...Precipitation continues for the Pacific Northwest and into the Northern and Central Rockies through Sunday... ...Snow spreads into the Northern Plains and Upper Midwest Saturday night and Sunday... Precipitation is expected to continue across the Pacific Northwest and into the Northern and Central Rockies through Sunday afternoon as an upper-level low makes its way slowly into the Pacific Northwest and a surface low pressure system develops in the Northern Rockies. Lower elevations will see rain, but higher elevations in the Cascades and the Northern and Central Rockies will have snow. 12 to 18 inches of snow are possible in some locations. Rainfall-wise, the coastal ranges in Washington and Oregon and the western side of the Cascades could see 3 to 5 inches of rain locally. High pressure builds in by Monday, ending the precipitation chances. As upper-level disturbances move through the Rockies and Plains, and the surface low pressure system continues eastward, snow is forecast north of the surface low for the Northern Plains beginning Saturday night and into the Upper Midwest on Sunday. A swath of snowfall totals of 4 to 6 inches is expected from eastern Montana through the Northern Plains and into the Upper to Middle Mississippi Valley. Winter weather advisories and winter storm watches are in effect. Light freezing rain accumulations are possible south of the snow axis. Temperature-wise, the central and eastern U.S. will continue to see below average temperatures. On Sunday, high temperatures will be 20 to 30 degrees below average in the Northern Plains and the Upper and Middle Mississippi Valley, supporting snowfall. Record lows could be set in these areas and into the Lower Mississippi Valley and Ohio Valley. The Southwest is expecting warmer than average temperatures, and by Monday, the West Coast will see warm temperatures as well as an upper-level ridge builds. Tate Graphics available at www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/basicwx/basicwx_ndfd.php