Short Range Forecast Discussion NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD 147 AM EDT Sun Apr 19 2015 Valid 12Z Sun Apr 19 2015 - 12Z Tue Apr 21 2015 ...A slight risk of severe thunderstorms is in the cards for parts of the Central/Southern Plains, Southeast, and southern Mid-Atlantic states... ...Heavy rain possible from parts of the East... A deepening cyclone moving up the Mississippi valley into the Great Lakes is the star attraction this period, focusing most of the precipitation across the country over the next 2-3 days. Moisture from the Gulf of Mexico will move north and eastward ahead of the system, with thunderstorms with heavy rainfall expected well in advance of the system from the Southeast through the Mid-Atlantic states. Vertical wind shear appears sufficient for a slight risk of severe thunderstorms, per the Storm Prediction Center, mainly near and south of the cyclone's warm front. Within the system's comma head precipitation pattern, the storm will produce snow over parts of the Central Rockies through into this afternoon with pockets of snow sneaking into northern Minnesota Monday morning. Across the Northwest, a cold front is expected to have a few showers along it once it reaches the Pacific Northwest Tuesday morning. Roth Graphics available at www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/basicwx/basicwx_wbg.php