Short Range Forecast Discussion NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD 258 PM EST Mon Jan 11 2021 Valid 00Z Tue Jan 12 2021 - 00Z Thu Jan 14 2021 ...Heavy rain/snow to impact portions of the Pacific Northwest over the next couple of days... ...Warm air expands over northern tier of the country while colder air retracts over the Deep South... An atmospheric river event is expected across the western portions of the Pacific Northwest over the next couple of days, as a steady surge of deep moisture is advected inland from the Pacific. Slight and Moderate Risks of flooding are in effect for the coastal portions of Washington and Oregon through Tuesday, with several inches of rain expected. Heavy snow can be anticipated over the higher elevations of the region, particularly over the higher peaks of the northern Cascades where over 2 feet of accumulation is likely. Snow will also expand across the Northern Rockies through Tuesday where 6-12 inches are possible, with isolated higher amounts. Elsewhere across the continental U.S., improving conditions can be expected across the Gulf Coast region and the Southeast U.S. as the southern tier low pressure system exits the coast, and stays well south of the Mid-Atlantic region and Northeast U.S. Some lake effect snow is likely through mid-week, especially since ice coverage on the Great Lakes is well below average for this late in the season. Temperatures are expected to be well above average for much of the nation through Wednesday, particularly across the northern Plains where high temperatures should reach well into the 40s and even low 50s, with Arctic air masses staying far north of the Canadian border. Hamrick Graphics available at www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/basicwx/basicwx_ndfd.php