Short Range Forecast Discussion NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD 238 AM EST Sat Nov 16 2024 Valid 12Z Sat Nov 16 2024 - 12Z Mon Nov 18 2024 ...Periods of heavy coastal rain and mountain snow to impact the Northwest this weekend, with heavy snow also spreading into the Northern Rockies... ...Heavy rain and severe weather potential to develop over the Southern Plains Sunday night... ...Elevated fire weather concerns will continue across parts of the Northeast through this weekend... Unsettled weather is in store for the Pacific Northwest and Northern Rockies through early next week as a strong cold front moves inland later today and leads to a consistent flow of Pacific moisture into the region. Heavy coastal rain can be expected throughout western Oregon and Washington, with heavy snow in the higher elevations of the Olympic and Cascade mountains. Winter Storm Warnings are in effect starting today across the Cascades due to forecast snowfall accumulations up to 2 feet. Mountain snow is also anticipated to expand eastward into the Northern Rockies by late tonight. Meanwhile, a separate area of low pressure racing out of the Northern Plains today ahead of the Pacific Northwest system may produce a swath of moderate snow of its own, with the medium chances (40-60%) for at least 4 inches of snow across northeast Montana and northwest North Dakota. By Sunday night, a blossoming precipitation shield is forecast to impact the southern Plains in response to a rapidly strengthening low pressure system. This anomalously strong area of low pressure will help surge ample atmospheric moisture content northward into a draped stationary boundary and produce areas of heavy rain from North Texas and the Texas Panhandle through central Oklahoma into eastern Kansas by Monday. Scattered instances of flash flooding are possible. Additionally, thunderstorms may become severe as an attached cold front pushes across the Lone Star State, with a risk damaging wind gusts and possibly a tornado or two into Monday morning. Dry conditions and gradually warming temperatures can be expected across the eastern U.S. through early next week in response to a large high pressure system sliding to the East Coast by Monday. While this is great news for outdoor fall activities, there remains elevated fire weather concerns throughout New England and the Northeast this weekend due to recent increasing drought conditions and breezy northwest winds. Red Flag Warnings continue for much of the highly populated I-95 corridor from Philadelphia to Boston. Snell Graphics available at https://www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/basicwx/basicwx_ndfd.php