Short Range Forecast Discussion NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD 259 AM EST Thu Jan 03 2019 Valid 12Z Thu Jan 03 2019 - 12Z Sat Jan 05 2019 ...Wintry precipitation expected for parts of the southern Plains... ...Heavy rainfall to impact parts of the Southeast... ...Heavy rain and higher elevation snow expected for the Pacific Northwest and California.. As a mid-level low moves across the southern Plains today, heavy rain and wintry precipitation is expected across this region. The axis of heavy rainfall will likely concentrate on the coast of Southeast Texas and into Louisiana. Farther north, snow and freezing rain will impact central Oklahoma and into parts of the Red River Valley. There could also be a wintry mix stretching down into Central Texas where there are winter weather advisories in place. This is expected to continue throughout the day and finally taper off by Friday morning as the mid-level low and the surface low moves farther east. In the meantime, travel conditions will be very difficult for today and into tonight. By Friday, the heavy rain will shift into the Southeast/Carolinas as the frontal system moves into the area. Precipitation will move quickly across this area so flash flooding will not be as much of a concern. The heaviest rainfall is expected across the western Carolinas and into northern Georgia--with precipitation stretching back into the Tennessee Valley northward into the Mid-Atlantic. By Saturday morning, showers and some higher elevation snow will continue across the Mid-Atlantic and central Appalachians. An active, stormy period for the Pacific Northwest is expected through the short term. Expect rain and higher elevation snow to begin by this evening and continue into Friday. Heavy snow will impact the Washington Cascades and the Idaho Peninsula--where there is winter storm warnings in effect. By Friday night and into Saturday, another system will approach the California coast--bringing showers and heavy snowfall across the Sierra Nevada mountain range. Expect most of the precipitation to fall through the weekend. A cold start to the short term period can be expected for most of Texas and Oklahoma today. By Friday, this area will warm to near normal--with some of the cooler conditions shifting to the Southeast as a cold front and rain move into that region. High temperatures nearing 20-25 degrees above normal will occur in the northern and central Plains along with the Upper Midwest today and Friday. Reinhart Graphics available at www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/basicwx/basicwx_ndfd.php