Yet another couple Pacific storm systems are forecast to impact the West this weekend bringing heavy lower elevation rain, significant mountain snow, and strong winds.
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The first system will be approaching the coast Saturday morning and move inland through the day.
Heavy rain chances will rapidly increase across California as another surge of Pacific moisture accompanies the approaching system.
Multiple Slight Risks of Excessive Rainfall (level 2/4) are in effect Saturday in favorable upslope terrain areas along the California coast, the Transverse Ranges, and the Sierra where 2-3"+ of rain could lead to localized instances of urban and small stream flooding as well as mudslides.
More moderate rainfall will continue into Sunday ahead of a second storm system approaching the coast early Monday morning.
Winter Storm Warnings are in effect for higher elevations in the Sierra where 3-6 feet of snow is forecast through Monday.
Wind Advisories are also in effect Saturday for portions of coastal California as well as the Central Valley for sustained winds upwards of 20-30 mph and gusts of 50 mph.
Moisture will also overspread the Pacific Northwest and Interior West Saturday into Sunday.
Most lower elevation/valley locations will start with rain showers on Saturday before switching over to a wintry mix/snow Sunday, outside of the Desert Southwest.
Little to no accumulations are expected.
Heavier snow is forecast for many higher elevation mountain locations from Central Idaho south into the Great Basin and Four Corners Region with numerous winter-weather related advisories in effect.
Locations across the Four Corners Region in particular could see upwards of 1-2 feet of snow through Monday morning.
Temperatures will be unseasonably warm in the center of the country ahead of the unsettled weather to the West.
Downsloping winds in the lee of the Rockies will lead to highs in the 50s for portions of the Northern High Plains, 50s and 60s for the Central High Plains, and 60s and low 70s for the Southern High Plains Saturday.
A cold front pushing in from the north will cool temperatures back into the 40s for the Northern High Plains Sunday.
Broad southerly flow will help to warm up temperatures for the rest of the Plains and Midwest on Sunday as highs reach up into the 30s for the Upper Midwest, 40s and 50s for the Middle Missouri and Mississippi Valleys, 50s and 60s for the Central Plains and Lower Mississippi Valley, and 60s and 70s for the Southern Plains.
Rapid cyclogenesis is forecast to occur in the lee of the Rockies Sunday ahead of an upper level trough moving in from the West.
Increasing winds on top of the warm temperatures and dry antecedent conditions have prompted a Critical Fire Weather Outlook highlighting portions of the Southern High Plains from the Storm Prediction Center.
Precipitation chances will increase Sunday night as the low rapidly moves northeastward into the Middle Missouri Valley.
Some light showers will be possible ahead of a developing cold front across the Mississippi Valley, with a wintry mix and snow to the northwest of the low track over portions of the Central/Northern Plains and Upper Midwest.
Further east, some light snow showers will linger in the Appalachians and Interior Northeast Saturday as northwest flow remains in place across the region following the passage of a cold front Friday.
A wintry mix will also continue for portions of coastal New England as an area of low pressure over the Atlantic passes by to the east.
Some light ice accumulations of around a tenth of an inch will be possible, particularly for Downeast Maine.
High temperatures will remain seasonably chilly for January on Saturday for most of the East Coast, Ohio Valley, and South as the cold air mass following the passage of the cold front remains in place.
Highs will be in the 20s for the Interior Northeast; the 30s and 40s for the Northeast, Carolinas, Ohio Valley, and Tennessee Valley; and the 50s for locations closer to the Gulf and Atlantic coasts, including Florida.
In fact, temperatures both Saturday and Sunday will be upwards of 20 degrees below normal for Florida.
A Freeze Watch is in effect for portions of the northern Peninsula Sunday morning as lows are forecast to dip into the high 20s. ■