Short Range Forecast Discussion NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD 248 PM EDT Wed Jul 10 2013 Valid 00Z Thu Jul 11 2013 - 00Z Sat Jul 13 2013 --Cooler and drier air is expected to move from the Great Lakes region into the Northeast, with cooling also anticipated for the Northwest-- --Heavy rains in Florida possible due to the proximity of a frontal zone, an upper level low, and what should weaken into Tropical Depression Chantal-- As troughing becomes more established across the Northwest, monsoon moisture with related afternoon and evening thunderstorms will shift northward from the Desert Southwest up the spine of the Rockies and force a cold front to push through the northern Rockies before stalling in the Snake river valley of Idaho. Ahead of the Northwest trough, a large upper ridge will dominate the Rockies and expand northeastward across the Plains where temperatures are expected to increase over the next couple days. Downstream, cooler air will make its way across the East over the next couple days, with the coolest air saved for the Great Lakes and Northeast. Thunderstorms are expected to focus near and ahead of its leading edge -- a cold front -- which should shift slowly eastward from the upper Ohio valley through the Eastern states, growing in intensity and coverage each afternoon and evening due to daytime heating. Across the Southeast and Florida, the combination of an invading cold front, an upper level low moving northwestward across Florida, and the system expected to weaken into Tropical Depression Chantal should lead to heavy rains spreading across Cuba and across the Florida peninsula on Thursday and Friday. It should be noted that there is significantly more uncertainty than usual regarding the forecast of Chantal, which depends upon whether or not it degenerates back into a tropical wave. See the latest advisories from the National Hurricane Center regarding the evolving track -- and possibly the status of -- Tropical Storm Chantal. Roth Graphics available at www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/basicwx/basicwx_wbg.php