Short Range Forecast Discussion NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD 234 PM EDT Tue Oct 04 2016 Valid 00Z Wed Oct 05 2016 - 00Z Fri Oct 07 2016 ...Severe thunderstorms and heavy rain possible for portions of the Plains... ...Snow expected for the higher terrain of the Rockies... ...Hurricane Matthew expected to move into the Bahamas Wednesday and Thursday, impacts possible in Florida by Thursday... A cold front currently moving across the central U.S. will bring showers and thunderstorms from portions of the southern plains to the Upper Midwest into Wednesday. The Storm Prediction Center is forecasting a slight to enhanced risk of severe thunderstorms through tonight across portions of the southern and central plains. Heavy rain is also possible through tonight from the southern plains to the Upper Midwest. On Wednesday, the southern portion of the frontal boundary is forecast to become stationary across the southern and central plains, keeping scattered showers and storms a possibility. Another wave of low pressure is forecast to develop along the front across the central plains Wednesday night into Thursday, which will spread another round of widespread showers and thunderstorms from the southern plains to the Midwest and Upper Great Lakes on Thursday. Farther west, an upper-level trough will move onshore in the Pacific Northwest tonight, bringing widespread rain showers to the region. On Wednesday, the trough will move inland, bringing below average temperatures and scattered precipitation to much of the Rockies and Intermountain West into Thursday. Snow is expected to fall at the higher elevations. Meanwhile, all eyes on the Eastern Seaboard are on Hurricane Matthew, which is forecast by the National Hurricane Center to move northwestward across the Bahamas on Wednesday and Thursday, to a position approximately 100 miles east of the central Florida Peninsula by Thursday evening. Hurricane and tropical storm watches have been issued by the National Hurricane Center for portions the central and southern Atlantic coast of Florida. Hurricane and/or tropical storm conditions are possible in these areas by Thursday. Additionally, showers and thunderstorms will become more numerous across the Florida Peninsula Wednesday night in advance of Matthew. Please refer to the latest products issued by the National Hurricane Center for the latest details and forecast track for Hurricane Matthew; and refer to products issued by your local NWS Forecast Office for details and impacts specific to your area. Ryan Graphics available at www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/basicwx/basicwx_wbg.php