Short Range Forecast Discussion NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD 458 PM EDT Wed May 1 2013 Valid 00Z Thu May 2 2013 - 00Z Sat May 4 2013 ***Rare May snowstorm to affect the Upper Midwest*** ***Much colder than average over the Central U.S.*** ***Heavy rain and strong thunderstorms for the Gulf Coast*** A rather unusual weather pattern has become established over much of the Central and Northern U.S. given the time of year. A major surge of cold air is being ushered in with a strong cold front and upper level trough through the Great Plains and into the Upper Midwest. There is enough cold air in place for snow on the northwest side of the precipitation shield, and there are even winter storm warnings out for parts of Minnesota and Wisconsin for at least four inches of snow! Some lingering snow showers are likely for parts of Wyoming and Colorado through Thursday morning. Having mentioned the strong cold front, temperatures will be at least 10 to 20 degrees below average from Texas to the Dakotas through the end of the week. There may be parts of Oklahoma and northern Texas that receive frost on Friday morning, and widespread sub-freezing temperatures are expected for overnight lows from Kansas and points northward. There may even be some lows in the single digits and teens for parts of the Central and Northern Rockies! Elsewhere, widespread showers and thunderstorms are expected to develop over the Deep South and into Florida through the end of the week as a weak upper level low and surface trough result in appreciable moisture convergence and lift. Rainfall amounts of several inches are possible where heavy rain persists the longest. Hamrick Graphics available at www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/basicwx/basicwx_wbg.php