Short Range Forecast Discussion NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD 252 AM EST Wed Nov 18 2015 Valid 12Z Wed Nov 18 2015 - 12Z Fri Nov 20 2015 ...Severe thunderstorms possible across portions of the Gulf Coast... ...Heavy rain possible across portions of the southern Appalachians... ...High winds possible from the northern Intermountain West to the northern plains... A strong cold front moving through the eastern half of the country will bring rain to the Upper Midwest, Great Lakes, and Ohio valley today. Farther south, warm and unstable air will allow for thunderstorms from the Gulf Coast north to the southern Ohio valley. The Storm Prediction Center is forecasting a slight risk of severe thunderstorms today across portions of the Gulf Coast. Please refer to the Day 1 Convective Outlook issued by the SPC for further details. Additionally, heavy rain will be possible across the southern southeast, with 1 to 4 inches of rain possible. The heaviest rain is forecast to fall across the southern Appalachians, where rainfall totals may exceed 4 inches in some areas. Flood and flash flood watches have been issued for these areas. Refer to products issued by local NWS Weather Forecast Offices for details specific to your area. Rain and thunderstorms will spread to the Eastern Seaboard tonight and into the Northeast on Thursday. Much of the East will dry out by Friday morning, but rain will persist across New England. A fast-moving "clipper" low pressure system will move from the northern Intermountain States into the northern plains today, before merging tonight with the low pressure system farther east. This system will bring cooler into the region behind it -- with rain and snow showers possible today. Additionally, the strong pressure gradient associated with the system will produce strong and gusty winds across a wide area from the northern Intermountain States to the northern plains. Winds of 35 to 50 mph, with gusts in excess of 60 mph will be possible today and tonight. High wind warnings are in effect for the affected areas. Precipitation will increase once again across the Pacific Northwest later today as another low pressure system approaches the region. Rain will fall at lower elevations with snow at higher elevations. The system will move into the northern Intermountain West on Thursday bringing another round of snows. By Friday morning the system will spread scattered rain and snow showers into portions of the central and northern plains. Ryan Graphics available at www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/basicwx/basicwx_wbg.php