National Weather Service forecasters say nearly continuous onshore flow will keep California and portions of the Pacific Northwest in a very active, wet pattern this weekend. Rain and mountain snow is forecast for much of the western U.S. as a deep upper-level low and associated surface cold front pushes inland. Heavy rainfall is expected for the coastal areas and the nearby mountains, with some locations getting in excess of 4 inches of rainfall by Saturday morning (2/16). The extent of this on

NOAA SWPC Regions 2445, near the NW limb (far upper right) and 2443, near central meridian (far lower left) continued to produce small C-class flares (below R1-Minor radio blackout levels) until 04/0326 UTC, when Region 2445 produced an impulsive M1 (R1-Minor radio blackout) flare. The imagery is courtesy of NASA's Solar Dynamic Observatory and helioviewer.com The flare was accompanied by a Type II radio sweep signature with a estimated shock speed of 790 km/s. A Type II sweep is often indicativ

An amplified weather pattern will produce several notable weather stories over the next 5-7 days. The total precipitation forecast over the next seven days shows a very wet stretch in the Northwest and across much of the eastern U.S. Snow and ice is in the forecast as well! For the latest winter forecast probabilities, please visit: https://www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/wwd/winter_wx.shtml | NOAA NWS Weather Prediction Center