Short Range Forecast Discussion NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD 421 PM EDT Sun Apr 06 2014 Valid 00Z Mon Apr 07 2014 - 00Z Wed Apr 09 2014 ...Severe thunderstorms and widespread heavy rain with potential flash flooding expected from the Central Gulf Coast states into the Southeast U.S. through Monday... ...A return to dry weather out West after some recent temporary relief of drought conditions... A strong Spring storm will impact a sizable portion of the Gulf Coast states into the Southeast with episodes of heavy rain and severe thunderstorms through the beginning of the work week. A quasi-stationary front currently extends from just off the coast of the Southeast, westward along the Gulf Coast, and into southern Texas. High levels of moisture from the Gulf of Mexico are currently being lifted atop the relatively cool air to the north of this front leading to widespread rainfall from eastern Texas eastward into Georgia and southern South Carolina. This setup will continue into the overnight hours, but a resurgence of moisture connected with increasing winds just above the surface from the south, will impact the Lower Mississippi Valley tonight as an upper level trough approaches from the west. Thunderstorms embedded within the heavy rain will have the potential to produce tornadoes, hail and strong winds in addition to flash flooding across this region of the South. Low pressure will track into the Ohio Valley on Monday, taking a cold front into the Southeast with a continued threat of severe weather and heavy rain. The severe storm and flooding threats will diminish Monday night into Tuesday as the cold front tracks mostly offshore. The focus will then shift into the Northeast where gusty winds will accompany moderate rain and even some light snow and ice accumulations for the highest elevations of northern New England early on Tuesday. Behind the large storm system, temperatures will be 5 to 15 degrees colder than normal on average for locations from the lower Plains to the Appalachians. From the Northern High Plains into the Intermountain West, temperatures will soar anywhere from 10 to 20 degrees above normal as a large upper level ridge builds across the West. This will ensure a dry pattern to start off the work week except for extreme northwest Washington where light rain ahead of a cold front will be common. Otto Graphics available at www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/basicwx/basicwx_wbg.php