Short Range Forecast Discussion NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD 304 PM EST Mon Nov 25 2019 Valid 00Z Tue Nov 26 2019 - 00Z Thu Nov 28 2019 ...Strong (potentially record-breaking) low pressure system will cause high winds and heavy precipitation for the West Coast... ...Another developing low is forecast to spread heavy snow from the Central Rockies through parts of the Plains and Midwest... The threat for impactful weather will increase significantly overnight and tomorrow as two surface low pressure systems strengthen. First, a surface low is forecast to move southeastward through the Eastern Pacific while strengthening rapidly. The low should reach landfall Tuesday evening near the California/Oregon border, and is currently forecast to have a central pressure of 974 mb. This would certainly set November low pressure records for the region and would flirt with all-time records. With such a tight pressure gradient, high winds are likely. Storm to hurricane force winds are expected offshore, with winds over 70 mph also possible along the Oregon coast, in the coastal ranges of Oregon and California, and across higher elevations of the Sierra. Power outages and tree damage are possible and visibility will be severely reduced where snow occurs. Speaking of snow, snow will be measured in multiple feet in higher elevations of the Sierra Nevada, with 1 to 3 feet currently forecast for the Shastas and Cascades. Snow will spread to much of the Intermountain West and into the Rockies Tuesday and Wednesday, and lower elevation rain could be locally heavy in California especially Wednesday. Colder than average temperatures are expected in the West as well. Another low pressure system is expected to consolidate in the lee of the Rockies overnight, move east across the Plains Tuesday, and northeastward across the Upper Midwest/Upper Great Lakes on Tuesday night into Wednesday. On the backside of the low, a swath of heavy snow is forecast from the Front Range of Wyoming and Colorado, northeast through the Central Plains, and into the western Great Lakes. Total snow accumulations of 6 to 12 inches will be common, with locally higher amounts possible. High winds are possible as well, creating the potential for near-blizzard conditions in the Plains. Travel will certainly be impacted with this system. As always, see the NWS local forecast offices for more information about your local forecast. A cold front will sweep eastward with this low, and behind it, high winds are expected in parts of the Southern Plains. These strong winds and dry conditions will lead to a elevated to critical risk of fire danger per the Storm Prediction Center. Along and ahead of the front, rain and scattered thunderstorms are forecast for the Lower/Middle Mississippi, Tennessee, and Ohio Valleys on Tuesday into Wednesday. Warmer than average temperatures are expected for the East ahead of the cold front. Tate Graphics available at www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/basicwx/basicwx_ndfd.php