Short Range Forecast Discussion NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD 259 AM EST Fri Nov 29 2019 Valid 12Z Fri Nov 29 2019 - 12Z Sun Dec 01 2019 ...Low pressure system will cause widespread heavy snow from the West into the Northern Plains and Midwest, as well as freezing rain and high winds... ...Locally heavy rainfall and some severe weather is possible farther south in the Southwest to Plains to Mississippi, Tennessee, and Ohio Valleys... A low pressure system is forecast to track over the Four Corners region today and move eastward into the Central Plains Friday night into Saturday, making its way into the Midwest by Saturday night and Sunday. This low (and the associated upper-level trough) is forecast to cause a myriad of weather hazards over a widespread area for the holiday weekend. First, the surface low will sweep a cold front across the Southwest on Friday. In lower elevations, heavy rain is expected along the front, with localized flash flooding possible. Temperatures will be below average in the West behind the front, and heavy snow is forecast for higher elevations of the West on Friday, with over a foot of snow possible in the Wasatch, San Juan Mountains, and the Mogollon Rim. The Intermountain West is expected to dry out by Saturday, but another low pressure system approaching from the Pacific will spread more snow and rain over the West Coast late Saturday into Sunday. As the main low moves eastward, precipitation will shift east with it, in the form of heavy snow north and west of the low and as rain and thunderstorms ahead of the cold front farther south. Precipitation in the Northern/Central Plains and the Upper Mississippi Valley could start as freezing rain on Friday before transitioning to snow. Freezing rain amounts should generally be a tenth of an inch or less. Snow will then overspread the Northern Plains and Upper Midwest Friday night and Saturday. A large swath of snow totals over 8 inches is forecast for the Northern Rockies eastward into the Northern Plains and for Minnesota, Wisconsin, and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Localized snow totals above 18 inches can be expected. High winds are also a threat, with blizzard conditions possible in the Northern High Plains. High Wind Watches are also in place for the Central High Plains, south of the main snow impacts. Some snow could spread into the Northeast by Sunday morning. As the cold front tracks eastward, rain and thunderstorms will move across the Southern/Central Plains into the Mississippi Valley on Friday, then into the Ohio and Tennessee Valleys Friday night into Saturday. Some heavy rainfall is possible in these areas, with concerns of localized flash flooding. Additionally, severe weather is possible, particularly on Saturday in East Texas to the Lower Mississippi Valley, where the Storm Prediction Center has a Slight Risk of severe weather outlooked. By Saturday night and Sunday, rain is forecast to move into the Mid-Atlantic and Southeast. Tate Graphics available at www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/basicwx/basicwx_ndfd.php