Short Range Forecast Discussion NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD 400 AM EDT Sat Oct 10 2020 Valid 12Z Sat Oct 10 2020 - 12Z 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 area as result. Kong ...Hurricane Delta to track northeastward across Lower Mississippi/Tennessee Valley with destructive winds and dangerous flooding... ...Heavy rain to impact areas from the Lower Mississippi Valley to Central Appalachians this weekend... Rain and high-elevation snow for the Pacific Northwest to the Northern Rockies; record warmth continues for Great Plains... Hurricane Delta is forecast to weaken to a Tropical Storm then Depression as it continues its trek across the Lower Mississippi Valley today. Heavy rain and scattered thunderstorms will lead to the potential for flash flooding across the Lower Mississippi/Tennessee Valley and Southern Appalachians today. Rainfall totals between 1 and 3 inches likely for much of that area. Delta will weaken to a Post-Tropical Cyclone on Sunday as it crosses into the Tennessee Valley. Some upslope enhancement along the Central/Southern Appalachians may contribute to higher rain totals for that region through Sunday. The interaction of a weakened Delta with an incoming surface boundary from the north may produce heavy rainfall for the Central Appalachians and Mid-Atlantic on Sunday. Meanwhile, an active pattern will include heavy rain and high elevation snow for the Pacific Northwest and Northern Rockies this weekend. A pair of low pressure systems is expected to produce 2-4 inches of rainfall across the Pacific Northwest while measurable snow may fall over the higher elevations. The primary system will continue eastward and continue to put down rain and snow across the Northern Rockies through Sunday. As the upper-level trough that powers this system deepens it will generate rain and scattered to isolated thunderstorms for the Upper-Midwest on Sunday. A warm front will develop and strengthen as the upper-level trough deepens over the Great Plains this weekend. Temperatures across the area could see high temperatures up to 20 degrees above average during this period. Kebede Graphics available at www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/basicwx/basicwx_ndfd.php