Short Range Forecast Discussion NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD 300 AM EST Wed Jan 06 2021 Valid 12Z Wed Jan 06 2021 - 12Z Fri Jan 08 2021 ...Periods of heavy precipitation continue to impact northern California, the Pacific Northwest, and into the northern/central Rockies... ...Light wintry precipitation expected to slide across the northern Plains to the Tennessee Valley and into parts of the Mid-Atlantic... ...Moderate to heavy rainfall expected across the Deep South into the Southeast... The bulk of the latest round of heavy precipitation is moving into the Pacific Northwest. As the associated frontal system gradually weakens, the precipitation will gradually become less intense later today. Much of the precipitation should fall as rain along the Coastal Ranges of Washington and Oregon into northern California while 6 to 12 inches of snow is forecast for the higher elevations of the Olympic and Cascade Ranges. By Thursday, the snow will move eastward across the northern Rockies with mixed precipitation over the northern High Plains while a reprieve in the activities reaches the Pacific Northwest. However, the next surge of moisture from another Pacific front is forecast to impact the same areas of the Pacific Northwest and northern California by Thursday night. Over the central portion of the country, an area of light snow will linger over the northern Plains today ahead of a weakening frontal system. 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 developing low pressure system. The showers and thunderstorms will then progress eastward through the Deep South on Thursday with embedded severe weather possible. In addition, isolated areas of heavy rainfall may develop near the advancing front. To the north of the low pressure center, wintry precipitation will slide towards the mid-Mississippi Valley tonight, into the Tennessee Valley on Thursday, and into parts of the Mid-Atlantic by Friday morning. Elsewhere, lingering light snow will slowly taper off across the Great Lakes, Northeast, and central Appalachians. Kong Graphics available at www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/basicwx/basicwx_ndfd.php