Short Range Forecast Discussion NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD 300 AM EST Thu Dec 03 2020 Valid 12Z Thu Dec 03 2020 - 12Z Sat Dec 05 2020 ...A developing low pressure will likely bring inclement weather for much of the East Coast for the next couple of days but its track and intensity remain rather uncertain... ..Snow ending across portions of Kansas, Oklahoma, and the Texas Panhandle this morning... ...Extremely Critical Fire Weather along the Coastal Ranges of southern California... A relatively small area of heavy snow associated with a cold upper low is still ongoing early this morning across portions of western Oklahoma and southwest Kansas. The snow is forecast to gradually taper off during the day today where localized amounts of a foot have already been reported. Winter Storm Warnings and Winter Weather Advisories are currently in effect this morning for these areas. This same system is expected to bring showers and thunderstorms to the Lower Mississippi Valley and Gulf Coast states today as a low pressure center develops near the coast along a front. Isolated instances of flash flooding are possible along the western and central Gulf Coast, where 1 to 2 inches of rain could fall. The system is expected to strengthen on Friday as it moves toward the East Coast. However, the exact track and intensity of the storm are still rather uncertain at this point. Nevertheless, rain should expand into the Mid-Atlantic later on Friday with increasing winds possible Friday night near the coast. Meanwhile, wintry precipitation across the Great Lakes today will spread into northern New England on Friday and continue to push farther south into the central Appalachians and the Ohio Valley by Saturday morning when the storm draws colder air down from eastern Canada. Elsewhere, weather throughout the western United States will remain fairly quiet with one exception. Thanks to a large area of high pressure located over the Rockies and Great Basin, gusty offshore winds are expected to continue across southern California through Friday. These winds combined with dry air will allow for any wildfires to spread uncontrollably. The Storm Prediction Center has placed an Extremely Critical Fire Weather area across the San Diego County Mountains on Thursday. Red Flag Warnings and High Winds Warnings have also been issued for much of southern California. Kong/Snell Graphics available at www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/basicwx/basicwx_ndfd.php