Short Range Forecast Discussion NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD 222 PM EST Wed Jan 01 2020 Valid 00Z Thu Jan 02 2020 - 00Z Sat Jan 04 2020 ...Heavy rains, isolated flash flooding and isolated severe weather possible across the Lower Mississippi Valley and central Gulf Coast... ...Above average temperatures expected across much of the country.... ...A powerful northeast Pacific storm will push a strong front, high winds and heavy rains into the coastal Pacific Northwest by late Friday... An increasingly wet pattern taking shape the first few days of 2020 from eastern Texas, northeastward across the Lower Mississippi Valley, central Gulf coast, Tennessee Valley, Ohio Valley and into the Mid-Atlantic. An amplifying mid to upper level trof over the Southern Plains will transport above average levels of moisture northeastward from Wednesday night through Thursday, supporting the heavy rainfall potential across these areas. In addition to the heavy rains, there is slight risk of severe weather and flash flooding Thursday across portions of the Lower Mississippi Valley into the Central Gulf Coast associated with this precipitation. In addition to transporting above average levels of moisture northeastward, the amplifying mid to upper level trof over the Southern Plains will also support a broad region of above to much above average temperatures from the mid section of the nation into the east. Above average temperatures also expected across much of the west coast into the Great Basin. The only exception to the above average temperature regime across the nation will continue to be through the Rockies and portions of the Southwest where temperatures are expected to be slightly below average over the next two days. Tranquil weather will persist across much of the west coast this period. However, a powerful, rapidly deepening low over the northeast Pacific late Thursday into Friday will push a strong front toward the Pacific Northwest coast on Friday. Strong winds and heavy rains are possible along the Washington State and Oregon coasts by Friday evening. Happy New Year! Oravec Graphics available at www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/basicwx/basicwx_ndfd.php