Short Range Forecast Discussion NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD 300 AM EST Fri Nov 27 2020 Valid 12Z Fri Nov 27 2020 - 12Z Sun Nov 29 2020 ...Heavy rain developing across the western Gulf Coast region today and expanding east toward the Florida Panhandle by Sunday... ...Critical fire weather across portions of southern California... ...Widespread above normal temperatures across the northern and eastern United States and along the Gulf Coast... A stalled frontal boundary combined with returning moisture from the western Gulf of Mexico will begin to fuel showers and thunderstorms across the region today. The showers are expected to become more persistent and more intense on Saturday across eastern Texas especially near the Gulf Coast as an upper-level disturbance reaches the southern Plains. A low pressure system is forecast to form along the stalled front near the Texas coast later on Saturday. The low will then push the heavy rain eastward into the central Gulf Coast and lower Mississippi Valley early on Sunday. Total rainfall amounts of 2 to 4 inches are possible with locally higher amounts. Due to such heavy rain falling in a relatively short amount of time, areas of flash flooding will be possible. The other hazardous weather concern over the next few days will be across southern California. Low relative humidity and gusty winds, thanks to a strong high pressure system located over the Intermountain West, is forecast to lead to critical fire weather. This means conditions are ripe for wildfires to possibly spread uncontrollably. Elsewhere across the country, above normal temperatures are expected to persist over the northern and eastern United States into the weekend. These temperatures are a welcome sight given the time of year, with comfortable highs in the 50s and 60s. In contrast, some signs of winter can be found over the southern Rockies where some snow is forecast for Friday night into early Saturday as the aforementioned upper-level disturbance passes over the region. Kong Graphics available at www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/basicwx/basicwx_ndfd.php