Short Range Forecast Discussion NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD 251 AM EDT Sat Apr 02 2016 Valid 12Z Sat Apr 02 2016 - 12Z Mon Apr 04 2016 ...Rain and thunderstorms ending today across most of the Southeast... ...Rain, snow, and strong winds expected for portions of the Great Lakes, Northeast, and Mid-Atlantic... ...Above average temperatures expected for much of the western U.S. today... A cold front will bring rain and thunderstorms to portions of the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic this morning, before moving offshore by afternoon. The front remain across southern Florida this afternoon, keeping scattered showers and thunderstorms possible over the Florida Peninsula. Locally heavy rain will be possible in thunderstorms, but widespread heavy rain is not expected. Meanwhile, a fast-moving low pressure system of Canadian origin will move across the Great Lakes today, bringing rain changing to snow for many areas as the system passes. The system will begin to move into the Appalachians and Northeast by this evening, and rain will mix with or change to snow across much of the Northeast Saturday night. The fast-moving and energetic nature of this system will also bring strong, gusty winds to a wide area from the Great Lakes to the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast. Wind gusts of 40 to 50 mph are possible today from the Upper Midwest to the Ohio valley and central Appalachians. Tonight into Sunday morning, wind gusts up to 60 mph are possible from portions of the Mid-Atlantic into southern New England. This low pressure system will quickly move out to sea on Sunday, with another, low pressure system crossing the Upper Midwest and Great Lakes in its wake. This second system will bring another round of rain and snow to many of the same areas of the Northeast Sunday night into Monday. Across the West, high pressure will generally remain in control today, with most areas remaining dry. A few scattered thunderstorms are possible during the afternoon across the interior Northwest as a weak upper-level disturbance crosses overhead. Temperatures will be above average today for most of the western U.S., with afternoon high temperatures expected to be 10 to 20 degrees above average for many areas. By Sunday afternoon, things will begin to change across the Pacific Northwest as a cold front approaches, spreading rain and high elevation snow showers into the region through Monday. Ryan Graphics available at www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/basicwx/basicwx_wbg.php