Short Range Forecast Discussion NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD 257 PM EST Sat Feb 24 2024 Valid 00Z Sun Feb 25 2024 - 00Z Tue Feb 27 2024 ...Pacific storm system to bring heavy snow to the western U.S. along with windy conditions to the Northwest, central to northern Rockies and adjacent High Plains... ...Warming trend east of the Rockies with record warmth possible over the central U.S. through early week... Relatively tranquil weather over the lower 48 on Saturday will begin to change on Sunday, beginning in the Pacific Northwest as a fairly strong storm system approaches from the eastern Pacific and British Columbia. An upper level disturbance will be preceded by a cold front that will reach Washington late Sunday afternoon. Steady rain will develop for the coast of the Pacific Northwest and lower elevations that are inland while periods of heavy snow impact the Cascades to downstream locations of the northern Rockies. Snow levels will fall after the cold front moves through with a rain/snow mix possible for the Seattle and Portland metropolitan areas Sunday night. Snowfall accumulations of 1 to 3 feet (locally higher) are anticipated for the Cascades and portions of the northern Rockies through Monday night. Heavy snow will begin to impact the central Rockies on Monday. Strong winds will also accompany this storm system with the strongest winds (gusts over 60 mph) expected for the higher terrain from Wyoming into Montana, however gusty winds of 30 to 50+ mph will also be possible for some of the adjacent High Plains regions of the U.S. from Nebraska into the Dakotas, extending westward to the foothills of the Rockies. Locations east of the Rockies will see low level winds developing from south and west. Westerly flow across the Continental Divide will promote downslope warming into the Plains, helping bring high temperatures into the 50s for the northern Plains on Sunday, 60s to 70s for the central to southern Plains and 80s for large portions of Texas. By Monday, 80 degree high temperatures may spread as far north as Kansas with lower 70s in Iowa, about 30-40 degrees above average for late February. This warmth will likely break some daily high temperature records for portions of the central U.S. After a cold start in the eastern U.S. on Sunday, temperatures will climb to near average by mid-day but continue to warm each day through the early part of the week. At least through Monday, a lack of moisture will keep most locations to the east of the Rockies dry, except for some light snow with a cold frontal passage in New England on Monday. Otto Graphics available at https://www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/basicwx/basicwx_ndfd.php