Short Range Forecast Discussion NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD 336 AM EDT Fri Sep 20 2013 Valid 12Z Fri Sep 20 2013 - 12Z Sun Sep 22 2013 ***Widespread significant rainfall over Southern U.S.*** ***Numerous showers and storms with Eastern U.S. cold front*** ***More unsettled weather for the Pacific Northwest*** After an extended period of dry weather for much of the summer season, Texas and the ArkLaTex region are expected to receive beneficial rain through Saturday. A cold front with multiple waves of low pressure intersecting a humid airmass, combined with moisture from the remnants of tropical storm Manuel, will create an environment favorable for widespread moderate to heavy rain with embedded thunderstorms. This will definitely be a relief for drought-stricken areas. However, localized flooding is possible where thunderstorm activity persists for extended periods of time. Rain and scattered thunderstorms are also in the forecast for the eastern third of the country with the cold front progressing steadily towards the East Coast this weekend. A relatively narrow but steady band of organized rainfall is expected in the vicinity of this boundary, along with gusty southwesterly winds over the Mid-Atlantic and into New England before the front passes. Higher quality fall weather can be expected later in the weekend after the front clears the coast. Elsewhere, a frontal system moving through the Pacific Northwest will bring scattered showers and perhaps a few storms from northern California to the Northern Rockies. Cool and dry weather is expected for the Upper Midwest and the Central and Northern Plains as a surface high governs the weather pattern. D. Hamrick Graphics available at www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/basicwx/basicwx_wbg.php