Short Range Forecast Discussion NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD 348 PM EDT Wed Apr 06 2016 Valid 00Z Thu Apr 07 2016 - 00Z Sat Apr 09 2016 ...Low pressure system expected to bring precipitation from the Mississippi valley to the East Coast... ...Heavy rain possible across portions of New England Thursday and Thursday night... ...Rain chances increasing across the Southwest by Thursday and Friday... Scattered to widespread rain and snow is forecast for a majority of the eastern third of the U.S. as a low pressure system moves through. Snow is forecast for much of the Upper Midwest, Great Lakes and Northeast; whereas, showers and thunderstorms are expected along the Appalachian Range and from the Southeast to northern Mid-Atlantic. The Storm Prediction Center has highlighted portions of the Tennessee Valley as having a slight risk for severe thunderstorms through Thursday morning. Any snow across northern New England will change to rain on Thursday as the system pulls warmer air north into the region. Periods of heavier rain will be possible throughout the day on Thursday across New England. Amounts of 1 to 2 inches of rain is forecast to fall, with locally higher amounts on Thursday; however accumulations near 4 inches will be possible by Friday night. Widespread rain may linger across Maine into Friday morning before the system exiting the region. In its wake, another blast of colder temperatures will spread into the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast resulting in temperatures ranging 10 to 20 degrees below average for early April. Much of the West will be warmer and drier through the end of the of week with many locations with afternoon temperatures forecast to be 10 to 20 degrees above average. An upper-level low over the eastern Pacific will help direct moisture into the Southwest U.S. by late Thursday evening. Scattered showers and thunderstorms are expected to develop, increasing areal coverage throughout the day on Friday. Accumulations of 0.10 to 0.25 inch will be common for much of the Southwest, with isolated areas of 0.50 inch to 1 inch at higher elevations. Southern California and the Sierra Nevadas will benefit from the low offshore. Accumulations of 1 to 2 inches is forecast by Saturday night. Campbell Graphics available at www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/basicwx/basicwx_wbg.php