Short Range Forecast Discussion NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD 345 AM EDT Sat Sep 27 2014 Valid 12Z Sat Sep 27 2014 - 12Z Mon Sep 29 2014 ***Upper level low over the Inter-Mountain West*** ***Showers and thunderstorms for the Gulf Coast*** ***Above normal temperatures across much of the U.S.*** The upper level pattern across the continental U.S. features a large closed upper-level low over the Inter-Mountain West for this weekend, and a general ridge over the central and eastern parts of the country. At the surface, a stationary front with multiple waves of low pressure along it are expected from Arizona to the Dakotas. In the presence of instability from the upper low and moisture transport from Mexico, numerous showers and storms are expected to develop over this region for Saturday and Sunday, with the greatest concentration during the afternoon and evening hours when instability is greatest. A few strong and severe thunderstorms are also likely. Most areas east of the Rockies should remain mostly dry through the weekend. The exception will be the Gulf Coast region, where an inverted trough near Louisiana will serve as a focusing mechanism for scattered showers and thunderstorms. Isolated storms are also likely for Florida and into Texas. A few showers are also a good possibility over the northern Great Lakes as a cold front slowly approaches from southern Canada. Elsewhere, expect highs to easily reach the mid 70s to mid 80s by Saturday under mostly sunny skies from the Ohio Valley to the East Coast. It will be even warmer across the central and northern Plains for Saturday as upper level ridging continues to be in place, with highs well into the 80s. Hamrick Graphics available at www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/basicwx/basicwx_wbg.php