Short Range Forecast Discussion NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD 246 PM EST Sat Nov 16 2024 Valid 00Z Sun Nov 17 2024 - 00Z Tue Nov 19 2024 ...Widespread precipitation expected across the Northwest and northern Rockies, including heavy mountain snow for parts of the region... ...A strong area of low pressure will bring periods of heavy rain, gusty winds, and the potential for severe thunderstorms into the southern to central Plains Sunday night and Monday... ...Elevated fire weather concerns will continue across parts of the northern Mid Atlantic and the Northeast through this weekend... An inland moving frontal system, followed by persistent onshore winds in its wake, will produce widespread precipitation from the Pacific Northwest into the northern Rockies through the remainder of the weekend into the early part of next week. This includes heavy snow with impacts to travel along much of the Cascades, as well as the northern Idaho and northwestern Montana ranges, where widespread accumulations of 8 inches or more are expected, with heavier amounts around 2 feet across some of the higher terrain. Meanwhile, an amplifying area of low pressure is expected to track from northern Mexico into the southern U.S., bringing areas of heavy rain and the potential for severe weather into the southern Plains late Sunday. Strong to severe thunderstorms are expected to develop across parts of western and central Texas from Sunday evening through the overnight, posing a risk for severe gusts and possibly a few tornadoes across the region. Heavy rain, with the potential for localized flooding, is also expected, with the heaviest amounts forecast to develop initially across portions of northwestern Texas into southwestern Oklahoma. This system will continue to strengthen, producing widespread precipitation and strong, gusty winds as it tracks northeast out the southern Plains into the central Plains and lower Missouri Valley on Monday. Severe thunderstorms will remain a threat, especially across the southern Plains, where the risk for damaging wind gusts is expected to continue. Ahead of this system, above-normal temperatures will continue into next week. Apart from a weakening system that may bring some light precipitation to parts of the Great Lakes, northern New York and New England, dry conditions are expected across much of the eastern U.S. Although winds across the region will be lighter than today, the persistence of critically dry conditions will contribute to elevated fire weather concerns across portions of the northern Mid Atlantic into southern New England on Sunday. Pereira Graphics available at https://www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/basicwx/basicwx_ndfd.php