Short Range Forecast Discussion NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD 259 PM EST Wed Jan 16 2019 Valid 00Z Thu Jan 17 2019 - 00Z Sat Jan 19 2019 ...Major winter storm for California Wednesday and Thursday... ...Cold across the northern tier of the nation... As a large system approaches California and moves inland, a major winter storm will develop especially across the Sierra Nevada. Blizzard conditions will be possible especially over 6500 feet with 2 to 4 feet, with 6 feet of snow expected in the peaks, of snow expected in this mountain range. Blizzard warnings have been issued and will be in effect through Thursday afternoon--with winter storm warnings for areas above 5500 feet being in effect through Friday morning. In addition to the heavy snow, heavy rain will also impact along the coast of California. Most of this rainfall will occur through tomorrow evening. A moderate risk of rainfall has been issued for a small area in southern California particularly where the burn scars are in the Los Angeles region. Precipitation will begin to wind down by Thursdasy night and into Friday morning as the frontal system progresses farther inland. Elsewhere across the nation, frigid temperatures will remain in place across the Dakotas and the Upper Midwest after the passage of a strong cold front. In fact, high temperatures will be nearly 10-20 degrees below normal. There should be enough moisture with this front to produce some light snow over the lower Great Lakes and across New England. With a large surface high over the Gulf Coast region, return flow from the Gulf of Mexico will bring an increase in moisture through eastern Texas and into the central Plains, where some showers are likely on Wednesday. Precipitation will spread north and east across the Mississippi Valley on Thursday as a front pushes eastward across the Mississippi Valley and then the Mid-Atlantic region. Along the northern portions of the Great Lakes and Ohio Valley, expect some snow and a wintry mix with this system from Thursday night and into Friday. Hamrick/Reinhart Graphics available at www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/basicwx/basicwx_ndfd.php