Short Range Forecast Discussion NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD 355 AM EDT Fri May 01 2015 Valid 12Z Fri May 01 2015 - 12Z Sun May 03 2015 ...Rain and thunderstorms will affect portions of the Mid-Atlantic region through tonight... ...Areas of showers and thunderstorms possible for the central/northern plains and Midwest... ...Temperatures will be 10 to 20 degrees above average from much of the West to portions of the northern plains and Midwest... A low pressure system offshore will bring rain and a few thunderstorms to portions of the Mid-Atlantic region today. Precipitation will taper off tonight as the system moves out to sea. Otherwise, most of the eastern U.S. will remain dry through Saturday. A weakening frontal boundary will cross the northern/central plains and Midwest today, with showers and thunderstorms accompanying the front. The most concentrated areas of showers and thunderstorms today are forecast to occur across portions of the Upper Midwest. The front will weaken significantly tonight into early Saturday and precipitation will decrease in coverage. Another frontal system will cross the Intermountain West tonight, and will reach the northern plains Sunday morning. This system will be relatively starved for moisture as it crosses the West, with only scattered showers and thunderstorms possible in areas where terrain will provide a focus. As the system reaches the central U.S. on Saturday it will access better moisture from the Gulf of Mexico, and showers and thunderstorms will once again be possible across portions of the northern plains and Midwest. Temperatures will be well above average through Saturday across much of the West, northern plains, and Upper Midwest. Afternoon high temperatures will be 10 to 20 degrees above average in these areas. Ryan Graphics available at www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/basicwx/basicwx_wbg.php