A strong Pacific low pressure system will slowly push inland spreading heavy rain to coastal areas and heavy snow across the mountain ranges of the Pacific Northwest south to the Sierras/western Great Basin.
The Boise National Weather Service office reports, with ample, nearly continuous onshore flow, precipitation will be moderate to heavy for a longer duration.
An extensive area of the offshore and coastal waters of Washington and Oregon continue to have Storm and Gale warnings in effect.
Winter Weather Advisories and Winter Storm Warnings are in effect for portions of the Olympics and Cascades – with Winter Storm Watch and High Wind Watches in effect from central Oregon to south-central California and northwest Nevada. Temperatures are expected to moderate across much of the Western and Central U.S. ahead of the deep upper trough.
Record high minimum temperatures will be possible across parts of the southwest, Great Basin, and central Rockies on Thursday and record high maximum temperatures will be possible across parts of the southern Plains on Friday. Light precipitation will spread east across the Rockies into the adjacent High Plains as a weak cold front passes through the central U.S. The cooler, post-frontal airmass will linger over the central CONUS as high pressure returns.
