Short Range Forecast Discussion NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD 343 PM EDT Tue Jul 26 2016 Valid 00Z Wed Jul 27 2016 - 00Z Fri Jul 29 2016 ...Severe thunderstorms and heavy rain possible today for portions of the central/northern plains... ...Wet conditions expected to develop along the Gulf Coast... ...Above average temperatures expected to continue across the East and the West through mid-week... ...Heavy rain possible on Thursday across portions of the central Plains and central Appalachians... Showers and thunderstorms are forecast across much of the northern tier states as a cold front moves southward from the Canadian Prairie. Some of these storms could be severe and may produce periods of heavy rainfall. Please refer to products issued by the Storm Prediction Center for more details on the severe weather threat. The cold front will push through the central Plains, Midwest and Ohio valley by Thursday afternoon. Meanwhile, a nearly stationary frontal boundary will linger from the Mid-Atlantic region to the mid-Mississippi valley to the central plains through the middle of the week. This will lead to scattered showers and thunderstorms remaining in the forecast for much of the eastern two thirds of the nation. Along the Gulf Coast, a broad area of low pressure at the mid and upper-levels of the atmosphere along with deep, tropical moisture will support numerous showers and thunderstorms through Wednesday. Numerous showers are forecast to focus from the Gulf Coast/Lower Mississippi valley northward to the Middle Mississippi valley. Heavy rain may be possible. Out West, hot and dry conditions will persist over the next few days. Afternoon high temperatures are expected to range 5 to 15 degrees above seasonal average for late July. High pressure in the middle and upper portions of the atmosphere will generally inhibit any chances for appreciable precipitation. Monsoonal flow into the Southwest may yield 0.50 to 1.25 inches in the higher terrain through Friday evening. Campbell Graphics available at www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/basicwx/basicwx_wbg.php