Short Range Forecast Discussion
NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD
328 PM EDT Thu Mar 21 2019

Valid 00Z Fri Mar 22 2019 - 00Z Sun Mar 24 2019

...A developing coastal storm to bring rain, interior and higher elevation
snows, and gusty winds to parts of the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast...

...A couple rounds of rain and mountain snows likely across parts of the
West during the short range, with rain moving into the Southern and
Central Plains by Friday...

...Major to historic river flooding will continue across parts of the
Mississippi and Missouri River Basins with areal flooding a threat across
parts of the Northwest and Northern Plains as well...


The main sensible weather threat in the short range with be a developing
coastal low pressure system over southeast Virginia this evening, tracking
up the East Coast through tonight and into Friday. Moderate to locally
heavy rainfall will accompany this system across the Mid-Atlantic and
Northeast with flash flooding a marginal and local threat particularly for
highly urbanized areas. A handful of flood watches are in effect across
parts of the Mid-Atlantic. Accumulating snowfall is likely well inland
across portions of the interior Northeast, where winter storm warnings
have been issued. Gusty winds are also likely across the Mid-Atlantic and
Northeast into the weekend as the storm deepens as it moves up the coast.

Meanwhile, a cold front moving across the Four Corners region this evening
will continue to produce rain and mountain snows across parts of the
Southwest and into the Southern Rockies through Friday. As moisture get
drawn northward from the Pacific ahead of the cold front, precipitation is
expected to spread into parts of the southern and central Plains on Friday
and Saturday. Another cold front entering the West Coast states by late
Friday will bring more rain and higher elevation snows to California, the
Pacific Northwest, and parts of the interior West this weekend.

Major to historic and catastrophic flooding across parts of the Missouri
and Mississippi River Basins will continue through the short range due to
ongoing effects following a period of rapid snow melt after heavy rainfall
last week. Flood warnings and advisories remain for parts of the region.
By Saturday, light rain will be possible across areas seeing the highest
impacts, which will only exacerbate ongoing flooding. Areal flooding is
also a concern across parts of the Northwest and into the Northern Plains
as warmer temperatures the end of this week lead to accelerated snowmelt
and the potential for ice jams.

Snell

Graphics available at www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/basicwx/basicwx_ndfd.php