Short Range Forecast Discussion NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD 220 PM EST Sat Jan 05 2019 Valid 00Z Sun Jan 06 2019 - 00Z Tue Jan 08 2019 ...Widespread rain, mountain snows, and wind expected across much of the West this weekend.... ...Temperatures well above normal over most of the Central US through Monday... ...Precipitation chances increasing in the Great Lakes on Monday... Over the next few days, several storms will push into the West and deliver widespread precipitation. The first wave will spread inland from the Pacific coast tonight and early Sunday, while another round will arrive at the coast later Sunday and spread inland on Sunday Night. The precipitation will fall as rain along the coast and in lower elevations elsewhere, and as occasionally heavy snow in the mountains. Locally heavy rainfall and isolated flooding will be possible in favored upslope regions of Northern California. For the Washington and Oregon Cascades and some of the interior mountain ranges across the West over 1 foot of snow is likely by Monday. In the ridges of the Sierra Nevada, over 2 feet of snow is expected. Strong winds are also likely to accompany these storms, and high wind warnings, watches and advisories are in effect along much of the West Coast. Out ahead of the storm systems in the West, temperatures should be well above normal across the entire Central US -- essentially everywhere from the Rocky Mountains east to the Appalachian Mountains. From the Northern and Central Plains into the Great Lakes, temperatures should be as much as 20 to 30 degrees above normal on Sunday and Monday. Meanwhile, conditions in the East should be relatively tranquil in the wake of a departing storm system tonight, with temperatures generally close to normal levels over the next several days. By Monday, a low pressure system will emerge into the Plains with precipitation beginning to develop in the Great Lakes. Despite the warm temperatures, conditions should be cold enough for some wintry precipitation closer to the Canadian border. Some accumulating ice and snow will be possible from North Dakota, into Minnesota, Wisconsin and Michigan. Winter Storm Watches are in effect near the western end of Lake Superior. Lamers Graphics available at www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/basicwx/basicwx_ndfd.php