Short Range Forecast Discussion NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD 344 PM EST Mon Nov 04 2013 Valid 00Z Tue Nov 05 2013 - 00Z Thu Nov 07 2013 ...Moderate to locally heavy rains returning to portions of the southern Plains into the mid and lower Mississippi valley... ...Locally heavy snows possible across parts of the central Plains... ...Moderating temperatures along the East Coast... Showers and thunderstorms are expected to continue into the evening hours from central Texas into Arkansas as mid-high level moisture emanating from the remnants of tropical cyclone Sonia and low level moisture from the Gulf of Mexico interact with a string of upper level disturbances rippling through strong southwesterly flow. As the period progresses, moisture from the Gulf will continue to funnel into the region behind a retreating area of high pressure centered over the East and ahead of an amplified upper system and its associated cold front spilling out of the Rockies. In advance of the cold front, showers and thunderstorms are expected to develop, some producing locally heavy rains as the front sweeps across Kansas and southern Plains into the mid and lower Mississippi late Tue into early Wed. Further to the north the front is expected to stall from the upper Great Lakes back into the central High Plains tomorrow, becoming a focus for the deeper moisture streaming north from the Gulf. Favorable upper jet dynamics are expected to help lift this moisture, resulting in a band of light to moderate precipitation from southern South Dakota and Nebraska through Iowa, southern Minnesota and into northern Wisconsin and the U.P. of Michigan. Moisture thrown westward into the deeper cold air behind the front by a surface low riding northeast along the front is forecast to result in some moderate to locally heavy snows from southeastern Wyoming, southwestern South Dakota into central Nebraska, where WPC has indicated a moderate risk for 8-inches of snow or more from this evening to Tue evening. In the West, expect mainly light to moderate precipitation across western Washington and Oregon in association with a weak frontal system moving onshore. And in the East, with the exception of some light showers afforded by persistent onshore flow along the Southeast coast, high pressure and dry conditions are expected to dominate. Below normal temperatures today will be followed a return to seasonal and above average temperatures along the Eastern Seaboard as the area of high pressure begins to shift to the east allowing southerly winds to return to the region. Pereira Graphics available at www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/basicwx/basicwx_wbg.php