Short Range Forecast Discussion NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD 130 PM EST Tue Dec 31 2019 Valid 00Z Wed Jan 01 2020 - 00Z Fri Jan 03 2020 ...-The recent coast to coast winter storm will continue to wind down, lessening impacts across the Northeast New Year's Eve into New Year's Day... ...Much of the nation will have above average temperatures for the first 2 days of 2020... ...Heavy precipitation expected from the Pacific Northwest into the Northern Rockies with heavy snows likely from the Washington Cascades into the Northern Rockies and heavy rains along coastal Washington and Oregon... ...Increasingly wet weather to develop from eastern Texas into the Lower Mississippi Valley late Wednesday into Thursday, with isolated flash flooding possible across the Lower Mississippi Valley... The recent long lived winter storm that has brought significant winter weather impacts from coast to coast over the past week will continue to lessen its grip on the nation New Year's Eve into New Year's Day as it lifts steadily into the Canadian Maritimes. Organized heavy snows with this system will come to an end this evening over Northern Maine. Lake effect snow showers, however, will persist off of Lakes Erie and Ontario for much of the day on Wednesday, supporting locally heavy snow across portions of western and northwestern New York State. In the wake of the northeast storm, a west to east mid to upper level flow pattern will keep much of the nation in above average temperatures for the first 2 days of 2020 as arctic air will remain absent from the lower 48. Slightly below average temperatures are expected, however, New Year's Day from eastern Texas along the Gulf Coast and into Florida. These temperatures will rebound by Thursday with above average temperatures expected across these areas. Below average temperatures also expected through much of the Rockies, but no extremes are anticipated. The west to east mid to upper level flow pattern that is supporting the mild temps across much of the nation will also bring heavy rains to the coastal Pacific Northwest and heavy inland snows from the Washington Cascades into the Northern Rockies tonight into Wednesday. The mid to upper level energy bringing the heavy precipitation to the Northwest/Northern Rockies will combine with southern stream energy moving across northern Mexico to support an increasing wet weather pattern Wednesday afternoon into Thursday from eastern Texas into the Lower Mississippi Valley. Heavy rains are likely to spread northeastward across these areas, with an increasing chance of isolated flash flooding Thursday afternoon into Thursday night across the Lower Mississippi Valley. Happy 2020! Oravec Graphics available at www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/basicwx/basicwx_ndfd.php