Short Range Forecast Discussion NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD 349 AM EDT Tue Apr 15 2014 Valid 12Z Tue Apr 15 2014 - 12Z Thu Apr 17 2014 ***Rain and thunderstorms for the East Coast on Tuesday*** ***Unseasonably cold across the central and eastern U.S.*** ***More rain and snow showers returning to the West*** Widespread showers and thunderstorms are in the forecast from the Deep South to the Northeast U.S. on Tuesday as moisture from the Gulf of Mexico continues to advance northward into the region ahead of a strong cold front. Ahead of this front, humidity and temperatures are more typical of May and early June, and this will support periods of moderate to heavy rainfall across most of the southern and eastern U.S. as the cold front moves offshore by Wednesday morning. After several days of very warm temperatures by mid-April standards, a much colder air mass is settling into the central and eastern U.S. behind the aforementioned strong cold front. Pronounced temperature falls are expected as the front passes, along with gusty northwest winds. Numerous freeze warnings are in effect from the southern Plains to the Mid-Atlantic, with overnight lows expected to fall into the mid 20s to lower 30s. The unseasonably cold weather is forecast for Wednesday as well. In addition to the abruptly colder weather, expect rain to change over to snow Tuesday night across the Northeast where minor accumulations are possible, mainly across the higher elevations where temperatures will be plenty cold enough for snow. Snow melt from rainfall ahead of the front may cause some flooding issues for parts of New England. With the next storm system passing over the central and northern Rocky Mountains into the central U.S. on Wednesday, light to occasionally moderate snow is expected from central Minnesota to northern Michigan. Across the Pacific Northwest, conditions will be unsettled with moist onshore flow resulting in rain and mountain snow showers. Temperatures along the West Coast should be close to seasonal average for the middle of the week. D. Hamrick Graphics available at www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/basicwx/basicwx_wbg.php