Precipitation chances pick up for the Pacific Northwest/NorthernRockies through the weekend......Chilly Saturday from the Ohio/Tennessee Valleys to the Northeast; lightprecipitation chances from the Great Lakes to the Carolinas......A mild, early Spring-like weekend for much of the central and westernU.S. as temperatures soar as much as 15-25 degrees above average...After a dry Friday, increasing moisture and northwesterly flow over thePacific Northwest/Northern Rockies will bring increasing precipiationchances Saturday. Some light to moderate higher elevation snow showers areforecast for the Olympics, northern Cascades, and portions of the NorthernRockies. More widespread, heavier precipitation will begin to pick up bylate in the day Sunday ahead of an approaching stronger upper-leveltrough. Heavy snow will continue into early next week beyond the currentforecast period for the Cascades and Northern Rockies, with Winter StormWatches now in effect. Additionally, fast moving flow aloft as well astroughing along the High Plains will bring some gusty winds, particularlyon Sunday. High wind-related watches and warnings have been issued forportions of the Northern Rockies/adjacent High Plains and southward intothe Central High Plains for gusts as high as 65-70 mph.A pair of cold fronts pushing through the eastern U.S. today and overnightwill bring some chillier temperatures from the Ohio/Tennessee Valleys tothe Northeast on Saturday. Highs will be in the teens and 20s for theInterior Northeast/northern New England and the 30s and 40s from theOhio/Tennessee Valleys east through the Mid-Atlantic and southern NewEngland. While not quite as cold, temperatures will also be below averagefor the Southeast, with highs ranging from the 50s in the Carolinas to the60s near the Gulf Coast and low 70s into Florida. Temperatures willrebound Sunday, particularly for the Ohio and Tennessee Valleys as highsreach into the 50s and 60s. A mix of light rain and snow shower will passfrom the Great Lakes through the Ohio Valley overnight Friday and into thesouthern/central Appalachians and Carolinas during the day Saturday.Elsewhere, most of the central and western U.S. will be dry with mild,above average high temperatures. The greatest anomalies will be over thePlains Saturday, spreading into the Middle Mississippi Valley Sunday,where highs 15-25 degrees above average will feel more like early Springthan Winter. Forecast highs Saturday-Sunday will range from the 40s and50s for the Northern Plains, 60s and 70s for the Central Plains, and 70sand 80s for the Southern Plains. Highs in the 60s and 70s will come to theMiddle Mississippi Valley Sunday. Parts of western Texas may see highsinto the mid- to upper 80s Sunday. While not quite as anomalous, the UpperMidwest/Great Lakes will also see highs above average, with 30s and 40sexpected. The warmer weather this weekend will only be a preview of evenmore anomalous temperatures heading into next week. In the West, highswill range from the 40s and 50s for the Pacific Northwest/northern GreatBasin, 50s and 60s for northern California and the central Great Basin,60s and 70s for central/southern California, and 70s and 80s for theDesert Southwest.