Short Range Forecast Discussion NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD 341 AM EDT Mon Mar 16 2015 Valid 12Z Mon Mar 16 2015 - 12Z Wed Mar 18 2015 ***Dry weather for the southern and eastern U.S. to start the week*** ***Unsettled weather to affect the Northwest U.S.*** ***Scattered showers and thunderstorms for the southern Plains*** High pressure will promote dry and pleasant conditions to start the new week across much of the eastern and southern U.S. Well above normal temperatures are forecast to continue across much of the central Plains and Midwest at least through Monday. Things will change as a cold front settling south from Canada passes through these regions by Tuesday, with a return to reality and much colder temperatures for the middle of the week. This colder weather will eventually reach the Mid-Atlantic and Southeast states by Wednesday, with highs returning to the 40s and 50s. For the western U.S., a series of weak disturbances aloft and a surface cold front slowly moving across the Intermountain West will generate patchy areas of rain from the Pacific Northeast to the northern Rockies. Given the lack of deep moisture with this system, rainfall amounts are expected to be generally light with snow confined to the highest elevations. Another area of precipitation worth mentioning will be moisture increasing over Texas and New Mexico from a trough situated over Mexico. The majority of the showers and thunderstorms should remain over Mexico through Monday night, with scattered showers and storms developing north of the border by Tuesday and Wednesday. Hamrick Graphics available at www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/basicwx/basicwx_wbg.php