An active weather pattern is setting up Wednesday through the weekend, with heavy snow forecast over the mountains across the West and rain expected along the coast.

SEE IMAGES: REMEMBERING SUPERSTORM SANDY 10 YEARS LATER

Much colder air will crash into record-setting warmth Thursday and Friday, setting up a potential severe weather outbreak over the Plains. 

That is anticipated to bring large hail, damaging winds, tornadoes and flooding rainfall.

Meanwhile, warmer-than-average temperatures will bring nice weather for much of the eastern U.S.