Short Range Forecast Discussion NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD 351 AM EDT Sat May 7 2016 Valid 12Z Sat May 7 2016 - 12Z Mon May 9 2016 ...Closed upper level lows near both coasts and a high pressure ridge over the central U.S. will slowly break down through the weekend... An omega block pattern aloft at the beginning of the period is forecast to slowly break down over the weekend. Well defined upper level lows are evident over the Desert Southwest and near the Mid-Atlantic coast Saturday morning, and a weakening upper level ridge over the Plains. By Sunday afternoon, the pattern should not be quite as amplified with the upper low lifting northward towards Canada and the ridge becoming more suppressed to the south. In terms of sensible weather, temperatures are expected to begin moderating across the eastern U.S. after several days of unseasonably cool weather and persistent cloudy skies. The same also holds true across much of the Intermountain West region with below normal temperatures likely to continue through the weekend, along with numerous showers and high elevation snow. The heaviest snow is expected for the highest mountains of Wyoming, Utah, and Colorado. Across the south-central U.S., it will become increasingly warm and humid as moisture returns northward from the Gulf of Mexico ahead of the upper low near the Rockies. Strong to severe thunderstorms will be possible from Texas to Nebraska on Sunday, and general thunderstorm activity is possible along a frontal boundary that will extend eastward to the Southeast U.S. coast. D. Hamrick Graphics available at www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/basicwx/basicwx_wbg.php