Short Range Forecast Discussion NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD 411 PM EDT Fri Oct 09 2020 Valid 00Z Sat Oct 10 2020 - 00Z Mon Oct 12 2020 ...Hurricane Delta is on track heading toward southwestern Louisiana with life-threatening storm surge, destructive winds, and dangerous inland flooding... ...Heavy rain to impact areas from the lower Mississippi Valley to the southern and central Appalachians this weekend; severe storms could impact the upper Midwest later on Sunday... ...Rain and high-elevation snow for the Pacific Northwest to the northern Rockies but record warmth continues for the central to southern Plains... The U.S. Gulf Coast is facing impacts from yet another hurricane as Delta, now a category-2 hurricane, is on track of making landfall on the southwestern Louisiana coast around sunset today. Beta will bring another episode of destructive winds and life-threatening storm surge from the upper Texas coast eastward into southwestern Louisiana, which will cause additional damage to structures already weakened by Hurricane Laura back in late August. Hurricane force winds will also spread inland across portions of southern Louisiana near the path of Delta's center this evening and tonight. Additional heavy rainfall of 5 inches or more is forecast near the track of Delta from interior Louisiana into the lower Mississippi Valley where dangerous inland flash flooding is expected into this weekend. Isolated severe thunderstorms are also possible prior to the arrival the the storm center through tonight. Delta will eventually weaken to a tropical depression on Saturday in northern Mississippi and gradually loses tropical characteristics before reaching Kentucky late on Sunday. Additional heavy rainfall is expected to spread into the southern and central Appalachians during the weekend and possibly reaching the interior Mid-Atlantic late on Sunday. Please visit nhc.noaa.gov for the latest updates on Hurricane Delta. A major change in weather pattern is in store for the western U.S. this weekend as a large cold air mass will work its way across the western U.S. and into the northern Plains by Sunday. The strong cold front marking the leading edge of the cold air is forecast to trigger severe thunderstorms over the upper Midwest later on Sunday. Meanwhile, the higher elevation of the northern Rockies is expected to see measurable snowfall on Sunday as the cold air filters across the area. A moist and active air stream from the Pacific will bring persistent rain into Pacific Northwest where a couple inches of rainfall is forecast near the coast. Meanwhile, temperatures will remain well above normal for the central and southern Plains through this weekend. In fact, record high temperatures are forecast in these area as afternoon temperatures soar as high as the century mark. The fire danger will also be elevated in portions of these areas as a result. Kong Graphics available at www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/basicwx/basicwx_ndfd.php