Short Range Forecast Discussion NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD 201 PM EST Tue Jan 07 2020 Valid 00Z Wed Jan 08 2020 - 00Z Fri Jan 10 2020 ...Heavy precipitation continues for the Northwest... ...Snow possible across the Southern/Central Appalachians, the Mid-Atlantic and the Northeast... The Pacific Northwest will continue to be in an active wet pattern with scattered to widespread coastal rains and mountains snows. Du rations of moderate to heavy rainfall along with localized flooding will be possible in the lower elevations of western Washington and the Northern Rockies. In some place, accumulations may reach or exceed 1 foot. Winter storm warnings and winter weather advisories area scattered across parts of this region. Recent temperatures across parts of northern Idaho and extreme northwest Montana have caused unstable snow pack conditions. With the addition of potentially several inches of new snow, there is an increased threat for avalanches. As such, there are Avalanche warnings in effect. As the cold front tracks further through the Rockies and out into the Plains by Thursday, showers and thunderstorms will overspread the Mississippi Valley ahead of its arrival. Another round of precipitation will begin to move onshore the Pacific Northwest by late Thursday and continue into the weekend, spreading the snow across the Intermountain West/Rockies and into portions of the Great Basin. For additional details, please refer to the Extended Forecast Discussion and the Heavy Snow and Icing Discussion. A surface low pressure system will strengthen as it crosses the Southern and Central Appalachians this afternoon. Precipitation will spread from the Carolinas, Mid-Atlantic to the Northeast as it moved eastward. A mixed bag of precipitation is expected with this low, with mainly rain hugging the coastal areas quickly transitioning to a mix or all snow. Winter Weather Advisories are in effect for portions of the Mid-Atlantic and southern portions of the Northeast through tonight. Generally light snow should spread into the Northeast on the backside of this low and as another frontal system moves through tonight into Wednesday. Temperature-wise, most of the country will be at or above average today, with cooler than average temperatures confined to parts of the Central Great Basin and the north-central U.S. Then below average temperatures spread to the Great Lakes region on Wednesday, with temperatures cooling along the West Coast as well. Campbell Graphics available at www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/basicwx/basicwx_ndfd.php