Short Range Forecast Discussion NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD 225 AM EDT Thu Aug 25 2016 Valid 12Z Thu Aug 25 2016 - 12Z Sat Aug 27 2016 ...Severe thunderstorms and heavy rain possible for portions of the southern/central plains and the lower Great Lakes... ...Above average temperatures expected to continue for the Pacific Northwest... A cold front will move across the Great Lakes, mid-Mississippi valley, and central/southern plains today bringing scattered to numerous showers and thunderstorms. Some thunderstorms may be severe across portions of the central/southern plains as well as across portions of the lower Great Lakes. Please refer to products issued by the Storm Prediction Center for further details on the severe weather threat. Heavy rainfall will also be possible, especially across the central/southern plains. Tonight into Friday, the front will spread showers and thunderstorms into the Northeast, before moving offshore by Friday evening, leaving dry conditions in its wake. Across the plains, however, the front is forecast to become stationary and linger through Friday before a new wave of low pressure develops along it by Friday night and Saturday. This will keep periods of stormy weather possible across the plains Friday, eventually spreading into the Midwest as well by Saturday. Meanwhile, the Pacific Northwest remains on the eastern periphery of a large upper-level ridge of high pressure centered over the North Pacific. This will keep dry and hot conditions in place across the Pacific Northwest through the next couple days. High temperatures today and Friday are expected to be 10 to 20 degrees above average across western Washington and Oregon. Somewhat cooler weather will arrive by Saturday as the ridge breaks down across the Northwest allowing an upper-level trough to approach. Ryan Graphics available at www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/basicwx/basicwx_wbg.php