Short Range Forecast Discussion NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD 353 PM EDT Wed Oct 14 2015 Valid 00Z Thu Oct 15 2015 - 00Z Sat Oct 17 2015 ...Showers across the Great Lakes can be expected for the next few days... ...Showers and thunderstorms forecasted for the western portions of the U.S... ...Below average temperatures will bring fall conditions from the northern Plains to the Northeast... An upper level disturbance will drive a surface front southward toward the Great Lakes region from Wednesday and into Thursday. The maximum precipitation amounts will initially remain north of the Great Lakes. However, by Friday afternoon slightly heavier amount of rainfall could impact the Lower Great Lakes and New England. The bulk of precipitation across New England will be concentrated in northern Maine. In fact, with colder temperatures settling across the region, WPC's winter weather desk has a chance for this precipitation to fall as snow. See the winter weather product suite for more information. An upper level low meandering eastward toward the southern California coast will once again bring showers and thunderstorms across the Southwest. The axis of the low will be centered over California by Friday, which will transfer plenty of moisture over the Southwest. With enough instability and moisture in place, convection is expected over the next few days over the Southwest on Wednesday and into Thursday. By Thursday night and into Friday, convection will spread into the Rockies and the Great Basin. Given the terrain and the amount of rainfall expected over the span of a few days, flash flooding could be a threat. See the WPC excessive rainfall forecasts for further details. South Florida will also be undergoing a wet period over the next few days as a cold front currently moving toward the region will stall by Thursday. Spotty showers and thunderstorms can be expected on Wednesday and into Thursday morning. By Thursday afternoon, once the front stalls, rainfall amounts will increase and continue through Friday. Fanning Graphics available at www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/basicwx/basicwx_wbg.php