Short Range Forecast Discussion NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD 459 PM EDT Tue Aug 18 2015 Valid 00Z Wed Aug 19 2015 - 00Z Fri Aug 21 2015 ***Strong low-pressure system moving across the Upper Midwest*** ***Warm and dry over the western U.S., and humid for the East Coast*** The main feature of interest across the nation is the strong low pressure system tracking over the Upper Midwest and the northern Great Lakes. This is stronger than most low pressure systems for this time of year, and it is expected to have widespread weather impacts from the northern Plains to the Deep South. Severe thunderstorms are expected across parts of the central Plains, and also over parts of Illinois and Wisconsin Tuesday evening ahead of the cold front that is associated with this low. Ahead of this front, a broken band of showers and storms is expected from Texas to the Ohio Valley on Wednesday as deep moisture from the Gulf of Mexico gets drawn northward. Scattered areas of heavy rainfall are likely as well. Behind the front, much cooler weather will arrive along with gusty northwest winds. It will fell more like fall instead of August across the Dakotas and over Minnesota. For the western U.S., warm and dry weather is forecast to continue through mid-week as high pressure remains over that region. For the East Coast, warm and humid conditions are expected ahead of the cold front. Hamrick Graphics available at www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/basicwx/basicwx_wbg.php