Short Range Forecast Discussion NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD 319 AM EDT Mon Apr 13 2015 Valid 12Z Mon Apr 13 2015 - 12Z Wed Apr 15 2015 ***Stormy weather pattern across the southern U.S.*** ***Cold front expected to reach East Coast by Tuesday*** ***Strong cold front to pass through the western U.S.*** A well-developed shortwave trough tracking across the northern half of the country in the mid-levels of the atmosphere will result in the passage of a cold front from the Upper Midwest and reaching the East coast by Tuesday afternoon. Although the main surface low with this feature will be well to the north over central Canada, there will be a wave of low pressure that develops along this cold front over the southern Plains. The most active weather pattern is expected to evolve over the southern Plains and the Deep South. Moisture from the Gulf of Mexico is forecast to surge northward ahead of the front approaching from the northwest. This front is forecast to stall out across the Deep South by Tuesday afternoon, keeping moisture and rainy conditions around. There will likely be widespread 1 to 3 inch rainfall amounts by Tuesday afternoon in these areas, with locally higher amounts possible that could cause some flooding issues. Elsewhere across the continental U.S., a rather strong cold front is forecast to cross the Intermountain West and the Rocky Mountains on Tuesday and into Wednesday morning. There will be enough cold air behind the front to support accumulating spring snow from Utah to Montana, especially in the higher elevations. There will also be a large pressure gradient with this frontal system, and the likely result will be strong and gusty winds over the Intermountain West. High wind watches are already in effect for some areas. D. Hamrick Graphics available at www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/basicwx/basicwx_wbg.php