Short Range Forecast Discussion NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD 310 PM EST Wed Feb 05 2020 Valid 00Z Thu Feb 06 2020 - 00Z Sat Feb 08 2020 ...Strengthening Southeastern U.S. storm system to produce heavy rainfall and the potential for flooding and severe weather, in addition to disruptive snow and ice accumulations... ...Copious amounts of snow to blanket the higher elevations of the Pacific Northwest and the Intermountain West, localized valley flooding possible... An organizing storm system in the Deep South will be responsible for producing a myriad of weather hazards across much of the eastern U.S. the next few days. A fetch of rich moisture from the Gulf of Mexico will stream out ahead of an upper-level trough. This will lead to developing areas of rain across the Mid-Atlantic and scattered thunderstorms in the Southeast today and tomorrow. Flood Watches and Flash Flood Watches are in effect from the central Gulf Coast and the Southeast to the central Appalachians. Heavy showers and thunderstorms will train across parts of these areas tonight and Thursday leading to excessive rainfall total ranging between 3 to 5 inches in these areas. Locally higher amounts in excess of 5 inches are possible. In response, Moderate risks for flash flooding have been issued in the Tennessee Valley tonight and over the western Carolinas and southern Virginia Piedmont on Thursday. Passing showers will be common along the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast coasts tonight and lasting into Friday morning. Farther south, severe weather may develop in parts of the Deep South this afternoon and evening where a Tornado Watch is currently in effect in the Lower Mississippi Valley. Severe thunderstorms are expected to form across the Southeast again on Thursday where an Enhanced risk for severe weather is in place. Switching to the winter weather related impacts, as the ongoing winter storm winds down in the Southern Plains this afternoon, snow and an icy wintry mix will lead to treacherous travel conditions in parts of the Midwest and Lower Great Lakes this evening. Winter Storm Warnings stretch from north Texas and central Oklahoma to the St. Louis metro area. Look for snow and an icy mix of sleet and freezing rain to overspread the Great Lakes and the interior Northeast tonight and into Thursday where Winter Weather Advisories are in place. As the storm rapidly intensifies Thursday night and into Friday, heavy snow will commence across northern New England while a wintry mix causes slick spots in portions of central New England. In the West, additional heavy snow can be expected for the Cascades and the northern and central Rockies as a plume of Pacific moisture moves inland from the Pacific. Snowfall will be measured in feet across the highest elevations. Meanwhile, the lower elevations can expect periods of rain and potential flooding, especially in areas surrounding the Seattle metro area where Flood Watches are in effect into the day on Friday. Mullinax Graphics available at www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/basicwx/basicwx_ndfd.php