Short Range Forecast Discussion NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD 300 AM EST Tue Jan 05 2021 Valid 12Z Tue Jan 05 2021 - 12Z Thu Jan 07 2021 ...Heavy precipitation continues to impact northern California, the Pacific Northwest, and into the northern/central Rockies... ...Light snow is forecast for the northern/central Plains Tuesday night into Wednesday as showers and thunderstorms develop near the western Gulf Coast... A lull in the active weather is currently settling into the Pacific Northwest as the antecedent frontal system moves farther inland across the northern and central Rockies. However, more active weather systems from the northeastern Pacific Ocean will bring additional heavy precipitation into much of the Pacific Northwest for the next couple of days. This next episode of heavy precipitation is forecast to arrive later today, resulting in an additional 6 to 12 inches of snow across the Olympic and Cascade mountains into parts of the northern Rockies through Wednesday. Meanwhile, rainfall amounts of up to 3 inches are possible along the Coastal Ranges of Washington and Oregon to the immediate coast before this latest episode of heavy rain lets up by Thursday morning. In the meantime, the aforementioned frontal system is forecast to bring a period of snow across the northern and central Rockies today before reaching the Plains tonight. Up to a few inches of snow can be expected over the northern Plains tonight into Wednesday as a weak low pressure system dips toward the southeast. The snow may mix with rain during the day. The main energy of this system will then slide further southeast into the southern Plains as return moisture from the Gulf of Mexico will begin to fuel thunderstorms across eastern Texas ahead of a low pressure system forming along the front early on Wednesday. Chances of thunderstorms will increase eastward across the Deep South into Thursday morning as the storm system intensifies. Across the eastern U.S., much quieter weather is in store over the next few days. Very light snow showers will be possible across the Great Lakes, Northeast, and central Appalachians. Otherwise, temperatures are forecast to be right around normal for this time of year with cooler than average temperatures found across Florida and the Southeast. Kong Graphics available at www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/basicwx/basicwx_ndfd.php