Short Range Forecast Discussion
NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD
422 AM EDT Sun Apr 05 2020

Valid 12Z Sun Apr 05 2020 - 12Z Tue Apr 07 2020

...California braces for significant mountain snows, heavy rain, potential
flash flooding, and gusty winds as a strong Pacific storm system slams
into the state today and Monday...

...Warming trend to engulf much of the eastern two thirds of the U.S. the
first half of the week...

...Showers and thunderstorms forecast to flare up in the Mississippi and
Ohio Valleys late Monday and into Tuesday...

California is feeling the initial impacts of an intensifying storm system
off the West Coast this morning with heavy showers tracking through
portions of central California. This is only the start of what will be a
busy Sunday as copious amounts of Pacific moisture stream out ahead of the
storm this morning. In the Sierras, snow will accumulate in a hurry as
snow falls fast and furious up and down the mountain range today and into
Monday. Snow will be measured in feet while the combination of heavy snow
and gusty winds lead to treacherous travel and whiteout conditions.
Meanwhile, rain will all heavily at times, especially for those along the
coastal range and the Southern California mountain ranges. Rainfall totals
are forecast to exceed 3 inches in the higher elevations with locally
higher amounts possible. Even lower elevation areas will see plenty of
rain with urbanized flooding possible. Moderate and Slight risks for
excessive rainfall are in place for portions of Southern California today
and a Slight risk remains in place for far Southern California on Monday.
Look for conditions to improve state-wide by Tuesday morning, although
abnormally cool temperatures will remain in the forecast on Tuesday.

While temperatures stay cool along the West Coast, folks from the front
range of the Rockies to the East Coast will warm up through the first half
of the week. Temperature anomalies in the Midwest will jump to 10 to 15
degrees above normal by Tuesday with daytime highs soaring into the 80s.
To the south, morning temperatures ranging between the upper 60s and low
70s in the Deep South could tie or break daily record warm low
temperatures Tuesday morning and into the latter half of the week. The
East Coast will also enjoy more spring-like temperatures with the lone
exception being New England as a cold front drops their temperatures
seasonally cooler levels by mid-week. Spring lovers in the central and
eastern regions will want to enjoy this stretch of warmer weather while
they can as cooler temperatures are forecast to return the second half of
the week.

The return of warmer temperatures in the Midwest and across the Gulf Coast
will also mean a chance for spotty showers and thunderstorms late in the
day on Monday. As a warm front in the the Mississippi Valley lifts east
towards the Ohio Valley and Mid-Atlantic on Tuesday, areas of showers and
thunderstorms will follow suit leading to wetter conditions from the
Mid-Atlantic on south into the Southeast. The Ohio Valley in particular
could be contend with severe thunderstorms and the potential for localized
flash flooding on Tuesday.


Mullinax


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