Short Range Forecast Discussion NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD 237 PM EST Thu Dec 03 2020 Valid 00Z Fri Dec 04 2020 - 00Z Sun Dec 06 2020 ...A rapidly-intensifying Nor'easter will bring gusty winds and heavy rain from the Mid-Atlantic to New England this weekend; heavy snow will be possible across interior portions of the Northeast... ...Extremely Critical Fire Weather along the Coastal Ranges of southern California... The most impactful weather system across the Continental United States through this weekend will be a powerful early-season Nor'easter. An area of low pressure currently located along the central Gulf Coast is forecast to move toward the northeast and near the southern Appalachians by late Friday. Showers and isolated thunderstorms will be associated with this system across the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic as it makes a beeline toward the Mid-Atlantic coastline. Once the low moves off the New Jersey coast Saturday morning, it is expected to enter a very favorable upper-level environment and rapidly strengthen. By late Saturday this dynamic system is forecast churn in the Gulf of Maine, bringing gusty winds to much of New England. Hazardous weather associated with this storm also includes heavy rain across the Mid-Atlantic and coastal sections of the Northeast. Upwards of 1 to 2 inches of rain, with locally higher amounts, could lead to isolated flooding concerns due to these regions still drying out from heavy rain that just fell a few days ago. On the northwest side of the storm, confidence is increasing that heavy snow will impact interior portions of the Northeast, as well as much of Maine. Snowfall amounts of 6 to 12 inches will be possible from western Massachusetts towards northern and central Maine. Upwards of two feet of snow could fall across the highest peaks of the Green and White mountain ranges. As per usual with a Nor'easter, there will be a sharp gradient between areas that see heavy snowfall and areas that see rain closer to the coast. Where snow does fall, it could be heavy enough to cause isolated tree damage and consequently power outages. 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 at least Friday. These winds combined with dry air will allow for any wildfires to spread uncontrollably. The Storm Prediction Center has placed Extremely Critical Fire Weather areas across the San Diego County Mountains, as well as the mountains of eastern Ventura and western Los Angeles counties this evening. Red Flag Warnings and High Winds Warnings have also been issued for much of southern California. Snell Graphics available at www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/basicwx/basicwx_ndfd.php