Short Range Forecast Discussion NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD 423 AM EDT Wed May 21 2014 Valid 12Z Wed May 21 2014 - 12Z Fri May 23 2014 ...Severe thunderstorms possible today along the I-70 corridor from Baltimore to Denver... ...Much needed precipitation for some of the drought stricken regions of Texas and New Mexico on Thursday... A storm system moving through the Great Lakes will continue eastward today, dragging its cold front through the Midwest. The combination of warm and more humid air behind the warm front and lift provided by the cold front will aide in producing widespread showers and thunderstorms over the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, and Ohio valley. New England will be the focus on Thursday as the low pressure translates offshore. The western portion of the front that remains stalled across Kansas and eastern Colorado is another area to watch for possible severe weather per the Storm Prediction Center. Very warm temperatures will continue to the south of the stationary front over Oklahoma where low to mid-90s are likely. In the west, a separate storm system will push slowly through the deserts today and toward the Four Corners tomorrow. The upper support for the precipitation over Nevada and California will be weakening with time so only light amounts of rain are expected. As the front moves east, southeasterly flow from the Gulf of Mexico through Texas will increase the available moisture along and north of the Rio Grande/Big Bend which should support more widespread rain by Thursday. These areas are in desperate need of rain as amounts over the past six months have been less than half of the normal amount. Fracasso Graphics available at www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/basicwx/basicwx_wbg.php