Winter storm brings heavy mountain snow, widespread damaging winds, andcold temperatures to much of the WestBlizzard conditions expected for the Sierra Nevada and portions of theGreat Basin on Saturday.A coastal storm will bring widespread rain up the East Coast throughSaturday, with thunderstorms across portions of the Southeast throughtonightMuch above average, Spring-like temperatures for the Plains and Midwestonce again heading into the weekend with Critical Fire Weather threat forthe central/southern High Plains.Another significant winter storm is forecast to impact much of the Westheading into the weekend, including dangerous, blizzard conditions for theSierra Nevada as an amplifying upper-level trough forces its way into thewestern U.S.  A multi-day influx of moisture from the Pacific is forecastto interact with a cold air mass arriving from western Canada, resultingin heavy snowfall for many of the higher elevation mountain ranges acrossthe Pacific Northwest, northern/central California, the northern/centralRockies, and Great Basin. Snow totals locally as much as 12"+ are forecastthrough Sunday. In addition, widespread damaging wind gusts of 55+ mph areforecast across much of the region, with even stronger gusts of 75+ mphfor higher elevations and mountain passes, leading to the risk of downedtrees and power lines as a potent cold front pushes through. The mostintense combination of snow and wind will converge over the Sierra Nevada,where a powerful blizzard is expected. Extreme snowfall totals of 5-12feet (locally even higher) are forecast through the weekend, with highsnow rates and winds leading to blowing/drifting snow and whiteoutconditions, making travel impossible. For lower elevations, the systemwill bring moderate to heavy rainfall to coastal locations, with a mix oflight to moderate rain/snow for interior locations, though anyaccumulations should remain limited.Along the East Coast, widespread rainfall and some embedded thunderstormsassociated with a wavy front are spreading northeastward from the centralGulf Coast across the Southeast, southern Appalachians and into the OhioValley.  A low pressure system is forecast to develop along the front andmove up the East Coast on Saturday.  This system is forecast to bring around of widespread rainfall up the East Coast through Saturday before thelow center exits the New England coast Sunday morning.  Some locally heavydownpours are possible, especially north of the boundary in the interiorSouth and along the Carolina coast.  Showers and storms will also lingeracross portions of the coastal Southeast into north Florida and theFlorida Panhandle into Sunday as the trailing portion of the front becomesnearly stationary.Much above average, Spring-like high temperatures are once again expectedacross much of the Plains and Midwest heading into the Weekend. Thegreatest anomalies are forecast for the northern Plains into the upperMidwest on Saturday pushing into the upper Midwest toward the Great Lakeson Sunday.  Highs will be upwards of 25-35 degrees above normal, reachinginto the 60s and 70s in these areas.  Highs Saturday will warm into the60s and 70s for the Middle/Lower Mississippi Valley, with 80s returning toTexas. The combination of warm temperatures, persistently dry conditions,and gusty winds over the central/southern High Plains will elevate therisk for wildfires through this weekend.  After a chilly day Friday in theSoutheast, temperatures will quickly rebound to average or slightly aboveaverage levels on Saturday, with highs in the 60s and low 70s.