Short Range Forecast Discussion NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD 455 AM EDT Fri Oct 03 2014 Valid 12Z Fri Oct 03 2014 - 12Z Sun Oct 05 2014 ...Showers and thunderstorms expected for much of the eastern half of the U.S... ...First snowfall of the season for the Upper Midwest... A deep upper level low continues to deepen and process eastward from the Plains toward the Ohio Valley. This impressive upper low is driving a cold front at the surface which currently extends from the Upper Midwest southward into south Texas. Ahead of the front, a long-lived squall line swiftly moves from the Deep South into the Great Lakes. This line of showers and thunderstorms will persist in its quick motion. Thus, even with heavy rainfall embedded in the thunderstorms, flash flooding will not be a high concern. Dry air following the cold front will prevent precipitation lingering. By Friday afternoon, showers and thunderstorms is expected to stretch from the Ohio Valley into the Southeast. The Mid-Atlantic and Northeast begins to see showers and thunderstorms by Friday evening. By Saturday morning, precipitation will extend from the Northeast to Florida, mostly along the coastline. South Florida will still see showers and thunderstorms on Saturday evening as the front advances southward toward the Keys. The Northeast will also have showers by Saturday night as the front lifts toward Canada. Behind this front, much cooler air will filter behind it. Fall makes its appearance just in time for the weekend, with temperatures as much as 20 degrees below average is expected for the Plains and Mississippi Valley. These colder temperatures will be confined to the Plains on Saturday and infiltrate further eastward by Sunday. The Upper Midwest will see its first accumulating snows on Friday and Saturday morning. Wrap around precipitation associated with the front aforementioned moves over Minnesota and Wisconsin on Friday. The wintry precipitation will move eastward across the Upper Midwest through Friday and into early Saturday morning. Significant accumulations are not expected. For more information, see WPC's Winter Weather products. Fanning Graphics available at www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/basicwx/basicwx_wbg.php