Short Range Forecast Discussion NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD 342 AM EDT Fri Sep 5 2014 Valid 12Z Fri Sep 5 2014 - 12Z Sun Sep 7 2014 ***A change in the weather pattern for much of the country*** ***Showers and storms returning to the Southwest and Texas*** We are now beginning to head into that time of year when the northern branch of the jet stream begins gaining more amplitude and descends farther southward. That will be the case this weekend as a well-defined cold front makes its move toward the East Coast. After several days of hot and humid weather from the Midwest to the Mid-Atlantic, more pleasant temperatures are expected behind the front as winds turn more northerly and deliver a quality air mass for much of the central and eastern U.S. by Sunday. Scattered showers and thunderstorms are likely ahead of this front, and a few of these could be strong or severe at times. Moisture and rainfall potential will be on the increase for the Desert Southwest and into Texas this weekend. A few convective complexes are forecast to develop across New Mexico and western Texas with locally heavy rainfall through Saturday evening. Across Arizona and eastern California, some moisture from Hurricane Norbert is likely to enhance shower and storm activity, along with monsoonal moisture from Mexico. Elsewhere across the U.S., a weak disturbance over the Southeast U.S. should help promote an active period for shower and thunderstorm development, mainly during the afternoon hours. Enhanced areas of convection may occur along the local sea breezes boundaries. For the Pacific Northwest, quiet weather conditions should prevail as high pressure remains over the region. Hamrick Graphics available at www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/basicwx/basicwx_wbg.php