Short Range Forecast Discussion NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD 224 AM EST Fri Dec 14 2018 Valid 12Z Fri Dec 14 2018 - 12Z Sun Dec 16 2018 ...Heavy rain and mountain snow expected for the northwestern U.S. and strong storm system affecting the Gulf Coast region to the East Coast... A large low pressure system crossing the Deep South and the southeast U.S. will be the main weather story through Saturday. An impressive upper level low crossing the south-central U.S. is sustaining the surface low and advecting copious moisture northward from the Gulf of Mexico. As a result, widespread moderate to heavy rain is expected from Arkansas to the Ohio Valley, and another area of numerous showers and thunderstorms from Florida to Virginia, with the potential for 1 to 3 inches of rain which could lead to some flooding issues, including areas that still have snow on the ground from the recent winter storm. Flood watches are currently in effect from Maryland to northeast South Carolina, and also for southern Georgia and northeast Florida. Strong to severe thunderstorms are also expected in the warm sector of this low from northern Florida to eastern North Carolina. Across the Pacific Northwest, another organized storm system will affect the Pacific Northwest beginning on Friday. This will produce another significant round of rain and high mountain snow, though not as heavy as the previous event, with falling snow levels in the wake of the cold front Friday into Saturday. Some of this moisture will reach the northern Rockies, with snow showers expected there Friday night and into Saturday morning. The next storm system is forecast to reach Washington and Oregon by Sunday morning with more rain and snow. D. Hamrick Graphics available at www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/basicwx/basicwx_ndfd.php