Short Range Forecast Discussion NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD 258 AM EST Tue Feb 23 2016 Valid 12Z Tue Feb 23 2016 - 12Z Thu Feb 25 2016 ...Strong to severe thunderstorms for the Gulf states today... ...Snow for portions of the Midwest tonight into Wednesday... ...Snow expected for portions of the central/southern Rockies... ...Excessive rainfall, with possible flash flooding, expected today across the lower Mississippi Valley and along the Appalachians on Wednesday... A majority of the West will remain dry over the next few days with the upper-level ridge overhead. A couple of fronts will approach the Pacific Northwest, but will weaken upon reaching the coast. A clipper system will develop by late afternoon and will slide down the Rockies through the Central/Southern Plains Wednesday and Thursday. This system will be relatively weak, therefore resulting in precipitation amounts generally less than 0.50 inch. The Northern Plains and Upper Midwest will also have generally light precipitation, primarily in the form of snow, through Thursday as a low pressure system and associated cold front swings through the region. Snow accumulations of 1 to 2 inches will be common. Portions of the Central and Southern Rockies are currently being impacted by a winter storm. Several Winter Weather Advisories and Winter Storm Warnings are in effect from southern Wyoming to northeast New Mexico/Texas Panhandle. A mid-level disturbance moved through overnight and a surface low developed over central Texas. Showers and thunderstorms will overspread the Southern Plains and lower Mississippi Valley today as the surface low deepens and warm,humid air surges northward ahead of the cold front. Some of the storms will range in strength from strong to severe today for the Gulf states. Much of southern Texas is under a severe thunderstorm Watch. Additionally, since stronger winds are expected with this system numerous Wind Advisories span from East Texas to southern Alabama. The Storm Prediction Center has highlighted a large portion of the South of having a slight risk for severe storms. The Gulf Coast, spanning from eastern Louisiana to the Florida panhandle, has a moderate risk for severe thunderstorms. Refer to SPC's webpage for additional information. Showers and thunderstorms will overspread the South and stretch into the Mid Atlantic and Ohio Valley by tonight/early Wednesday morning. The storm will track northeastward across the Tennessee Valley Wednesday morning. Heavy rain will spread into southern New England and severe weather will be possible from Florida to southern Virginia/Maryland. Cold air will come in from the northwest and change rain to snow along the northwestern edge of the precipitation from Arkansas to Michigan. A long swath of 6 to 2 inches will be possible from Indiana to Northern Michigan. See the winter weather page for more details. Campbell Graphics available at www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/basicwx/basicwx_wbg.php