Short Range Forecast Discussion NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD 300 PM EST Sat Jan 11 2020 Valid 00Z Sun Jan 12 2020 - 00Z Tue Jan 14 2020 ...Heavy snow and significant ice accumulations over parts of the Great Lakes and northern New England today and early Sunday.... ...There is an enhanced risk of severe weather this afternoon for the Central Gulf Coast and a slight risk of excessive rainfall from the Tennessee and Ohio Valleys northward into the eastern Great Lakes... ...Temperatures will be 15 to 30 degrees above average over much of the East Coast this afternoon and on Sunday... ...Heavy snow will blanket the higher elevations of the Northwest... A powerful winter storm will produce numerous weather hazards to much of the eastern U.S this weekend. Today, severe thunderstorms, heavy rain and flash flooding will impact much of the Central Gulf Coast/Lower Mississippi Valley into the lower Great Lakes. Further north, snow accumulations will range from a six to twelve inches across northern Michigan. Signifiacnt ice accumulations of a quarter to one half inches over Michigan and Northern Maine will lead to treacherous travel conditions, power outages, and tree damage tonight and into Sunday. Some ice accumulations may approach one inch in far northern New York. Gusty winds are anticipated behind the storm which is why wind advisories are issued across a large portion of the eastern U.S.. Between one to two inches of heavy rain is on tap across the Southeast, the eastern Great Lakes, and northern New England. A slight risk of excessive rainfall is forecast over parts of Tennessee Valley/Lower Mississippi Valley northeastward to the Western Ohio Valley and parts of the Great Lakes where prolonged heavy rainfall, coupled with overly saturated soil, will lead to areas of flooding this evening The most flood-prone locations will be urban areas, roads, and small streams. Plus, the Storm Prediction Center maintains an enhanced risk of severe weather for parts of the Central Gulf Coast/Lower Mississippi Valley and Tennessee Valley through tonight with severe storms capable of producing tornadoes and damaging winds. Tornado Watches remain in effect for portions of the Deep South through this evening. Ahead of this storm system, much of the East Coast is getting a very early glimpse of spring as temperatures soar into the 60s and 70s. Numerous daily high and warm overnight low temperature records are expected to be broken up and down the East Coast today and into Sunday. Despite the storm system's cold frontal passage on Sunday, the colder air behind the system presently will modify by the time it reaches the East Coast. This will result in "cooler" temperatures to start the week, but temperatures will remain 5 to 15 degrees above normal across most eastern regions. The Pacific Northwest will witness another storm system approach the region on Sunday, then track into the northern Rockies on Monday. Moderate to heavy snow over the Intermountain West and Northern/Central Rockies will continue through Monday. Snow accumulations will be measured in the highest peaks of the Cascades, while one to two feet of snow are likely in the higher elevations of eastern Oregon, northern Idaho, and central Rockies. The snow levels will drop down to the coast Sunday into Monday over northern California leading to more heavy snow in the northern Sierra Nevada. Mullinax Graphics available at www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/basicwx/basicwx_ndfd.php