Short Range Forecast Discussion NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD 305 AM EST Fri Jan 01 2021 Valid 12Z Fri Jan 01 2021 - 12Z Sun Jan 03 2021 ...A low pressure system will bring a threat of severe weather across the Southeast today while a swath of snow and ice will stretch from the central Plains this morning to the interior Northeast by tonight and into Saturday... ...Another low pressure system will bring thunderstorms across the Southeast and wintry precipitation across the Northeast later this weekend... ...More stormy weather to impact the Pacific Northwest with heavy lower elevation rains and heavy mountain snows for the Cascades and the Northern Rockies... A very active and stormy weather pattern will prevail across the U.S. as we ring in the new year. A strong low pressure system is forecast to move through the central and eastern portions of the country with numerous weather-related hazards during the next coupe of days. Thunderstorms near and ahead of a cold front extending from the storm center will bring a threat of the severe weather across the Southeast today. Meanwhile, heavy rains will taper off across the lower Mississippi Valley region this morning behind the cold front but they will quickly advance east across the Tennessee Valley today and into the Mid-Atlantic through tonight. On the northwest flank of this storm system, a swath of snow and some ice is expected to stretch from the central Plains this morning to the interior Northeast by tonight and into Saturday. As the low advances off toward New England and begins to strengthen on Saturday, heavier amounts of snow is forecast for the interior sections before the system moves away into the Canadian Maritimes Saturday night. Behind this system, another low pressure system is forecast to develop rapidly across the Southeast along the trailing front Saturday night. This system will bring additional thunderstorms across the Southeast and wintry precipitation across the Northeast into Sunday morning. Across the Pacific Northwest and into the northern Rockies, the next in a seemingly unending series of Pacific cold fronts will arrive and drive strong onshore flow and moisture transport for heavy lower elevation rainfall and heavy mountain snows. In fact, portions of the Washington Cascades and the northern Rockies should see an additional one to two feet of snow going into the weekend. Overall, large portions of the nation will see relatively mild temperatures into the weekend as much of the air across the nation will be Pacific in origin, with a continued lack of Arctic air surging south from Canada. The exceptions to this will be across parts of the southern U.S. where clouds and precipitation will help keep temperatures a bit below normal. Happy New Year!! Kong/Orrison Graphics available at www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/basicwx/basicwx_ndfd.php