Short Range Forecast Discussion NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD 318 AM EDT Wed Jul 9 2014 Valid 12Z Wed Jul 9 2014 - 12Z Fri Jul 11 2014 ***Trough in the East and Ridge in the West*** ***Showers and thunderstorms expected for the Inter-Mountain West*** ***Cooler and drier weather from the Upper Midwest to the Northeast*** The upper-level pattern through the end of the week will feature a trough across the eastern half of the U.S. while a ridge will remain in place over the West. A few weak shortwaves aloft are expected to pivot around the base of the upper level low over southern Canada during this time. At the surface, a high pressure ridge will build across the Midwest and eastward into the Northeast by the end of the week, and a cold front is expected to clip the Pacific Northwest and Montana. Out West, the monsoonal flow will continue to provide moisture for showers and thunderstorms across the Four Corners region, as well as the Desert Southwest for Wednesday and Thursday. More concentrated areas of rainfall are likely near mountain ranges where upslope flow will aid in thunderstorm development, and some of these storms will be capable of producing strong and gusty winds. Isolated thunderstorms may reach as far north as Idaho and Wyoming. For the eastern U.S., a relatively strong low pressure system over Quebec and Ontario will bring a cold front across the Eastern U.S., and the western end of the front will likely stall over the Deep South for the end of the week. Heat and humidity will be present ahead of the front, along with showers and strong thunderstorms. A high quality airmass will be enjoyed by residents of the Upper Midwest, Great Lakes, and Ohio Valley in the wake of the cold front. Hamrick Graphics available at www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/basicwx/basicwx_wbg.php