Short Range Forecast Discussion NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD 412 PM EDT Wed Jul 23 2014 Valid 00Z Thu Jul 24 2014 - 00Z Sat Jul 26 2014 ...Slight risk of severe weather for Northeast/Southern Plains/Northern Rockies today... ...Cooler temperatures for Northeast/Great Lakes and hot for much of the Plains... A hot and humid airmass in place across the Eastern U.S. will support strong thunderstorm development this afternoon along and ahead of the advancing cold front. The storm environment will be more conducive to organized thunderstorm activity across the Northeast where an upper level jet max will provide enhanced lift in the region. The cold front will drift slowly off the Northeast coast and through the Mid Atlantic by tomorrow afternoon. Below normal high temperatures will be common across the Great Lakes, Northeast, and Mid Atlantic on Thursday as cooler air filters in behind the front and showers, thunderstorms, and clouds along the front stunt diurnal heating. A strong upper level low approaching the Pacific Northwest will bring heavy rain to the higher terrain and cooler temperatures to much of the Northwest U.S. Much of the precipitation with this storm system will remain north of the border, but heavy rainfall is expected along the higher terrain of the Pacific Northwest and Northern Rockies. Severe weather is possible today across the Northern Rockies and Northern High Plains. A strong jet and approaching mid level shortwave energy will provide extra lift for more organized storms to develop. Strong westerly flow over the Central and Northern Rockies will lead to rising temperatures across the Plains. Temperatures will be at or near 100 from Texas to Montana before a cold front cools things off in the Northern Plains toward the end of the period. Krekeler Graphics available at www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/basicwx/basicwx_wbg.php