Short Range Forecast Discussion NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD 500 PM EDT Wed Aug 27 2014 Valid 00Z Thu Aug 28 2014 - 00Z Sat Aug 30 2014 ...The threat of flash flooding is expected to move from the north-central Plains into the Upper Midwest during the next couple of days... It appears that the main focus of heavy rain over the next couple of days will be in the mid-section of the Country moving slowly into the Upper Midwest. This is in response to a frontal system moving slowly northward across the central Plains as an upper-level trough approaches from the central Rockies. The upper-level trough will also induce the formation of surface low pressure centers along the front, where rain is expected to be enhanced. A main surface low is forecast to move east-northeastward across Nebraska and South Dakota tonight into Thursday, and then across the Upper Midwest on Friday. Heavy rains and thunderstorms ahead of this low could lead to flash flooding across the aforementioned areas. Over the Northeast and into the Mid-Atlantic, mainly fine weather with near normal to below normal temperatures can be expected behind a cold front as Hurricane Cristobal passes safely well off the East Coast. Summer heat will prevail to the south of the cold front with mainly dry conditions across much of the South. The only exception will be near the western Gulf Coast where a tropical low is slowly approaching Texas. Showers and thunderstorms can be expected in the coastal areas but are expected to become more widely scattered as the low is forecast to weaken and become more diffused with time. In the West, showers and thunderstorms in the Central/Southern Rockies should become more isolated with time as the upper-level trough departs the region. A cold front coming down from Canada can trigger some showers and thunderstorms in the Northern Rockies late Thursday into Friday along with summer heat. For the remainder of the West, weather should continue to be fine and dry through Friday. Kong Graphics available at www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/basicwx/basicwx_wbg.php