Short Range Forecast Discussion NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD 427 PM EDT Sat Apr 12 2014 Valid 00Z Sun Apr 13 2014 - 00Z Tue Apr 15 2014 ...Severe storms likely across the center of the country this weekend... ...Flash flooding possible from Iowa/Missouri...northeastward into Michigan... ...Strong Spring storm to bring much colder temperatures and snow to the Central High Plains... The weather across the lower 48 through Monday will revolve around a large Spring storm system which is in the process of developing this afternoon. Impacts from this storm will be widespread in terms of threats and coverage. Unseasonably warm April temperatures and moisture are both currently in place from eastern Kansas and Nebraska eastward into the Midwest ahead of a cold front. These conditions along with the approach of an upper level system should allow thunderstorms, some strong to severe, to form over Iowa later this afternoon. Thunderstorms are expected to be ongoing by sundown across portions of Iowa with coverage expanding south and east overnight with training convection potentially causing flash flooding from portions of Iowa/Missouri, northeastward into lower Michigan. The Storm Prediction Center has outlined a slight risk of these thunderstorms being severe through Sunday morning. On the cold side of this storm system will be snow, with moderate to locally heavy accumulations for the Central to Northern Rockies as colder air continues to drop southward causing rain to change over to snow. Similarly, for locations east of the higher terrain, such as eastern Colorado/Wyoming into western Nebraska and Kansas, light snow accumulations are expected despite today's high temperatures well into the 70s and 80s. In fact, locations behind the strong cold front will feel dramatically colder temperatures compared to current conditions, on the order of 20 - 40 degrees. Light snow is also expected across portions of the Upper Midwest, for locations just north of Chicago into northern portions of lower Michigan where 1-4 inches could fall by the end of the day on Monday. Thunderstorms with embedded heavy rain are expected over the South, from eastern Kansas to central Texas, eastward to the Mississippi River for Sunday into Monday. The storm Prediction Center has outlined the potential for severe thunderstorms with these storms. Otto Graphics available at www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/basicwx/basicwx_wbg.php