Short Range Forecast Discussion NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD 307 PM EST Thu Jan 09 2020 Valid 00Z Fri Jan 10 2020 - 00Z Sun Jan 12 2020 ...Heavy rain, flash flooding, and severe weather will increase throughout the day on Friday across the central U.S. ahead of a developing low pressure system... ...Light snow and freezing rain are possible for portions of the Plains, Mississippi Valley, and Great Lakes... ...Colder than average for the West Coast to Northern Plains and much warmer than average for the eastern half of the nation... ...Heavy snow once again possible in higher elevations of the Northwest Friday into Saturday... A strengthening trough will be in place over much of the western states into the weekend. Meanwhile surface fronts will slowly move eastward while providing a focus for a broad area of 1 to 2+ inches. The rainfall coverage and intensity will steadily increase along the High Plains, Midwest and for portions of the Mississippi Valley where Gulf moisture will feed northward near the fronts resulting in an additional 1 to 3 inches. Due to the slow progression of this system, storm motion will be slow and expected to track over the sames area. This will become become problematic as soils become saturated. A large portion of the central U.S. will likely reach or exceed flash flooding conditions. The area will the best possibility for excessive rainfall spans from northeast Texas to southwest Missouri, with a broader area from eastern Texas/western Louisiana to southern Michigan. Additionally, the Storm Prediction Center has outlooked a Moderate Risk of severe weather on Friday for parts of the Southern Plains to Lower Mississippi Valley. On the backside of this system, light to moderate snow over the Intermountain West and Rockies will spread eastward tonight into Friday. A wintry mix of snow, sleet, and freezing rain is possible in portions of the Southern/Central Plains into the Middle Mississippi Valley and northeastward into the Great Lakes region Friday into Saturday after the cold front drops the temperatures. Freezing rain amounts of over a tenth of an inch are currently forecast for parts of Missouri into southeastern Iowa. A stark temperature gradient will setup over the country thanks to the strong front over the central U.S. In the warm sector ahead of the front, daily temperatures will average 15 to 25 degrees warmer than typical early January readings. Numerous records are expected to be broken from the Plains to the Ohio and Tennessee Valleys. The warmth will reach the Eastern Seaboard by this weekend. In contrast, the western half of the country will be much colder than usual as a cold front and secondary cold front reinforces the frigid airmass. By Friday, high temperatures in the single digits are forecast for the north-central tier of the nation. The Pacific Northwest will have another low pressure system approach the region on Friday, which will amplify the precipitation. Coastal areas will have periods of moderate rain while higher elevations of the Cascades, Northern Great Basin and the Northern Rockies will have heavy snow. Snow accumulations may very well reach or exceed 2 feet in the highest peaks of the Cascades, around 1 foot elsewhere. Campbell Graphics available at www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/basicwx/basicwx_ndfd.php