Short Range Forecast Discussion NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD 236 PM EST Fri Dec 25 2020 Valid 00Z Sat Dec 26 2020 - 00Z Mon Dec 28 2020 ...Heavy rain and flooding likely across portions of New England through Saturday morning... ...Intense lake effect snow downwind from the Lower Great Lakes through early Sunday... ...Heavy snow over parts of the Cascades, Sierra Nevada, and the northern Rockies... This Christmas has brought plenty of frightful weather across New England, where heavy rain and gusty winds are expected to continue into the overnight hours. The combination of heavy rain and warmer than average temperatures has also led to a rapid melting of the previously fresh snowpack. As a result, flooding is likely across parts of northern New England through Saturday as rivers and streams fill with rain and melting snow. WPC has placed a Moderate Risk of Excessive Rainfall that extends from southeast Vermont through central Maine. Flood Watches and Warnings have also been issued. The strong cold front responsible for the unpleasant weather will dash eastward by Saturday, leaving any leftover precipitation to fall as light snow. However, snow will not be as light downwind of Lake Erie and Lake Ontario through Sunday morning. Strong westerly winds, warm lake temperatures, and cold air temperatures aloft will make for a favorable environment for heavy lake effect snow. In the typical snow belts southeast of Lake Erie and east of Lake Ontario, upwards of 1 to 2 feet of snow could fall. Lighter amounts will also be possible across northern Michigan and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Across the western United States, a low pressure system is forecast to enter the Pacific Northwest tonight and bring wintry weather of its own. Heavy snow over 6 inches will be possible across the northern Sierra Nevada, much of the Cascades, and portions of the northern Rockies as well. Rain will be likely along the West Coast, with light rain as far south as central California Saturday morning. As the system exits into the Plains during the day on Sunday, light snow is expected across the northern tier and eventually into the Upper Great Lakes by late Sunday. Temperatures are expected to remain quite cold on Saturday across the Southeast. In fact, Hard Freeze and Freeze Warnings have been issued for northern and Central Florida. Meanwhile, temperatures 10 to 15 degrees above average will be found across the central U.S. to start the weekend, before extending into the Ohio and Tennessee valleys on Sunday. Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays from WPC! Snell Graphics available at www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/basicwx/basicwx_ndfd.php