Short Range Forecast Discussion NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD 303 PM EST Fri Feb 26 2021 Valid 00Z Sat Feb 27 2021 - 00Z Mon Mar 01 2021 ...Heavy mountain snow and gusty winds will impact portions of the Pacific Northwest and Northern Rockies through Saturday... ...Numerous showers and thunderstorms likely from the Lower/Middle Mississippi, Tennessee, and Ohio Valleys to Southern Appalachians through the weekend... ...Light snow and wintry mix to spread throughout the Appalachians, Northeast, and New England between this evening and Saturday... In the Northwest, a potent upper-level trough is forecast to drop southward into the region today, leading to continued snow in higher elevations as well as the potential for high winds. Snowfall totals are expected to be 1 to 2 feet in the peaks of the Cascades and Northern Rockies before snow winds down Saturday. The Wasatch and Wind River Mountains/Tetons could see snowfall amounts of 6 to 12 inches. Meanwhile, high winds with gusts over 50 mph are possible in some areas in and north of the Great Basin, leading to blowing snow and reduced visibility. Winter Storm Warnings/Winter Weather Advisories and High Wind Warnings/Wind Advisories are in effect for portions of the Northwest given these threats. With this pattern, cooler than average temperatures are likely across much of the Intermountain West, with highs about 10-20 degrees below average by Saturday persisting through the weekend. Working with the injection of fresh cold air, the frontal system that blanketed areas in the Mountain West with snow yesterday will produce more winter weather Northern Plains late tonight into tomorrow morning. Several inches of snow and a light glaze of freezing rain are possible across portions of the upper Corn Belt. The active pattern continues Sunday with yet another frontal system on the heels of the first, with a shot of light rain in the Central Plains transitioning to a winter mix north of a warm front in the upper Missouri Valley. Multiple rounds of showers and thunderstorms are possible over the next few days across portions of the central and eastern U.S. near meandering frontal boundaries. In particular, through Saturday night, rain of 1 to locally 3 inches with locally higher amounts are likely across portions of the Lower/Middle Mississippi Valley eastward into the Tennessee and Lower Ohio Valleys and toward the Southern Appalachians. Several days of widespread rainfall could lead to an enhanced flash flood threat in these areas, especially into the weekend as rain could fall onto already wet ground. As such, a Marginal Risk of excessive rainfall is in place through tomorrow morning in the Tennessee Valley, with a Slight Risk in effect for Saturday and Sunday. Further west, the Storm Prediction Center has outlooked a Marginal Risk of severe weather over the Upper Red River Valley into the Ozarks tomorrow, due to the risk of damaging hail. By this 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 encounter a colder airmass in place from the Central Appalachians to northern New England. 2 to 3 inches of snow and a glaze of freezing rain will be possible, and Winter Weather Advisories are in effect for portions of the Appalachians. Light rain is expected for coastal regions and major cities along the I-95 corridor during this time frame. Temperatures will rise to above normal beginning Saturday throughout the central and eastern U.S., so additional precipitation should fall as rain, with the exception of northern Maine. Asherman/Tate Graphics available at www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/basicwx/basicwx_ndfd.php