Short Range Forecast Discussion NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD 256 PM EST Tue Mar 05 2019 Valid 00Z Wed Mar 06 2019 - 00Z Fri Mar 08 2019 ...Active weather continues in the West, with heavy snow in the mountains and heavy to excessive rain in parts of California... ...Cold in the central and eastern U.S., with Freeze Warnings widespread in the Southeast... The western U.S. will stay entrenched in an active weather pattern as multiple upper-level impulses pass through. An influx of moisture will lead to the potential for heavy rain in parts of California through Tuesday night, and there is a Slight Risk of excessive rainfall in place where flooding could pose a threat. In higher elevations, precipitation will fall as snow, and heavy snow of 1 to 3 feet is likely for the Sierra Nevada--most will fall through Wednesday but snow remains possible into Thursday. The Sawtooth Mountains, Wasatch, and Northern/Central Rockies could also see heavy snow of 12 to 18 inches. Upper-level energy will then move into the Plains Wednesday night and into the Mississippi and Ohio Valleys on Thursday, spreading snow to these areas. Through Thursday evening, 2 to 6 inches of snow is forecast for parts of the Northern/Central Rockies and the Middle Mississippi Valley. Below average temperatures will persist over the CONUS east of the Rockies during the period. The Northern/Central Plains will see high temperatures 15 to 30 degrees below average, and low temperatures 10 to 20 degrees lower than normal. While cold, this is an improvement over recent temperatures. Freeze Warnings are in effect across the Lower Mississippi Valley to the Southeast on Wednesday morning as the unusually cold, potentially record breaking, low temperatures could harm vegetation. The Ohio Valley into the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast can expect high temperatures of 15 to 25 degrees below average on Wednesday, warming a bit on Thursday. Meanwhile, temperatures 10 to 20 degrees above average are forecast for the Southwest into the Southern Rockies. Elsewhere, light snow showers are expected for the next couple of days in the Great Lakes region and into the Northeast, with higher totals downwind of Lake Ontario with lake enhancement. Rain showers are possible along the western Gulf Coast on Wednesday, spreading into the Lower Mississippi and Tennessee Valleys by Thursday as Gulf moisture increases over land. Tate Graphics available at www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/basicwx/basicwx_ndfd.php