Short Range Forecast Discussion NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD 257 PM EST Thu Feb 25 2021 Valid 00Z Fri Feb 26 2021 - 00Z Sun Feb 28 2021 ...Gusty winds and heavy snow to impact portions of the Pacific Northwest and Northern Rockies over the next few days... ...Numerous showers and thunderstorms likely from the Southern Plains to Southern Appalachians through this weekend... ...Light snow and wintry mix to spread throughout the Appalachians, Northeast, and New England between Friday evening and Saturday... A potent Pacific storm system is currently entering the Northwest and expected to bring gusty winds and high elevation snow. Post-frontal snow showers are forecast to linger through Friday and into the early morning hours on Saturday. Total snowfall amounts will be measured in feet across the Cascade Mountains of Washington and Oregon. Heavy snow will also infiltrate inland areas, including the Blue Mountains of northeast Oregon, as well as the Northern Rockies from northern Idaho to the Wasatch Mountains of Utah. Wind gusts over 50 mph for much of the same region could make visibility difficult at times due to blowing snow. In the lower elevations, less snow is likely, but wind gusts could still make travel difficult for high profile vehicles. Winter Storm Warnings, Winter Weather Advisories, as well as Wind Advisories have been posted for the area. For portions of the Northern High Plains in Wyoming and Montana, even stronger wind gusts may mix down to the surface; therefore High Wind Warnings have been issued. Meanwhile, a stalled frontal boundary across the Southern Plains and Southeast will be the focus for numerous showers and thunderstorms beginning tonight and lasting through the weekend. Through Saturday evening, rainfall amounts over 2 inches will be possible from northeast Texas to the Southern Appalachians. Isolated instances of flooding will be possible, mainly from the Lower Mississippi Valley to much of the Tennessee Valley. Thus, WPC has issued a Marginal Risk for Excessive Rainfall throughout the region. Isolated severe thunderstorms will also be a concern as unseasonably warm and moist air continues to enter from the Gulf of Mexico. SPC has issued a Marginal Risk for severe thunderstorms that lasts through early tomorrow morning from the Southern Plains to Lower Mississippi Valley. The severe threat then shifts slightly eastward and into the Tennessee Valley on Friday. Large hail and damaging winds will be the main risks with these storms. By Friday evening and into the first half of this weekend, a wave of showers associated with the aforementioned frontal system and an approaching wave of low pressure is forecast to enter a colder airmass in place from the Central Appalachians to northern New England. A few inches of snow and a glaze of freezing rain will be possible, but little to no travel impacts are expected. Light rain is expected for coastal regions and major cities along the I-95 corridor during this time frame. Snell Graphics available at www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/basicwx/basicwx_ndfd.php