Short Range Forecast Discussion NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD 306 AM EST Wed Nov 28 2018 Valid 12Z Wed Nov 28 2018 - 12Z Fri Nov 30 2018 ...Snow will continue to impact northern New England with additional lake effect snowfall expected downwind of the Great Lakes through today... ...Heavy precipitation is expected across the Pacific Northwest and California over the next few days with very heavy snowfall in the Sierra-Nevada... ...Well below normal temperatures are likely across parts of the Midwest and East as temperatures rebound to well above normal over the High Plains... The heavy snow event across northern New England is underway this morning and is expected to continue through today. The surface low is expected to move away from Maine by this afternoon and will be well offshore by tonight. In the meantime, heavy snow will continue from upstate New York through western Maine. Additionally, strong and cold northwest flow over the Great Lakes will bring heavy lake-effect snow downwind of Lake Erie and Ontario--where upwards of 10 to 12 inches of additional snow can be expected. The snowfall combined with the strong winds are expected to result in hazardous travel conditions. By Thursday morning, as the low pressure system continues to move farther into the Atlantic, snowfall will begin to dwindle--completely drying out by Thursday evening. In terms of temperatures, expect below normal temperatures through Thursday. A wet, active pattern will continue for the West over the next few days across the Pacific Northwest, California, and the northern/central Rockies. Deep atmospheric fetch of moisture from the Pacific and colder temperatures continues to cross the West Coast and well inland across the Intermountain region. The heaviest rainfall today is expected to occur in northern and central California--with lighter amounts in the Pacific Northwest and Intermountain West. This is giving way to heavy rainfall and heavy snowfall--especially to the Sierra Nevada where a foot of snow above 4,000 feet could occur--with localized amounts of up to 3 feet. The heavy precipitation will continue on Thursday across California as a frontal system moves across the state toward the Central Great Basin. By Friday, precipitation will shift mostly to the Great Basin with some lingering showers and higher elevation snow occurring in California and parts of the Pacific Northwest. The winter storm warning for the Sierra Nevada mountain range is expected to last through Friday morning. Because of the recent burn scars in combination with heavy rainfall over several days, flash flooding is a concern for parts of California. See WPC's excessive rainfall discussion for more information. Elsewhere, an upper level disturbance and associated surface low will drop southeast from Canada into the northern Plains today, moving into the Upper Midwest by tomorrow. This system will bring light snow and freezing rain to portions of the Dakotas and also Minnesota. The High Plains southward into the southern Plains can expect temperatures to be well above average over the next few days. Because of the active pattern across the West, expect below average temperatures for California and the Central Great Basin--with near normal temperatures for the Pacific Northwest and Intermountain West. Reinhart Graphics available at www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/basicwx/basicwx_ndfd.php