Short Range Forecast Discussion NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD 339 PM EDT Mon Oct 17 2016 Valid 00Z Tue Oct 18 2016 - 00Z Thu Oct 20 2016 ...Severe thunderstorms and locally heavy rain possible for portions of the Upper Midwest and Great Lakes... ...Rain and a few thunderstorms expected again today for the Pacific Northwest... ...Well above average temperatures expected for the central and eastern U.S... Showers and thunderstorms are forecast for much of the Upper Midwest and Great Lakes region through Tuesday evening as a developing surface low along the front lifts northeast from the central Plains. Severe thunderstorms will be possible north of the warm front tonight and into Tuesday morning. The Storm Prediction Center has a slight risk covering southeast Minnesota, central Wisconsin and northern Michigan. Locally heavy rain will also be possible in this region. Please refer to products issued by the Storm Prediction Center for more details on the severe weather threat. Showers and a few thunderstorms will continue along the trailing cold front as it advances trough portions of the Northeast, Ohio valley and Midwest. Southern Canada and the northern-tier states will have a shot of cold air as cold front sags southward in the wake of the first system. The northern Rockies may have snow in the higher elevations with light rain elsewhere through midweek. In contrast, the southern and central Plains will have temperatures warmer than seasonal average- some areas may exceed 20 degrees above average. Temperatures will rise into the 80s on Tuesday as far north as the Ohio valley and Mid-Atlantic. Much of the Pacific Northwest will continue to unsettled this week. Onshore flow will maintain the likelihood of widespread rain along the coast, with scattered precipitation east of the Cascades. Areas of rain and snow showers will also linger on Tuesday and Wednesday across the central and northern Rockies. Surface high pressure will build over the Intermountain West and Great Basin, which will help dry out the Northwest- albeit briefly. Another low pressure system will advance toward the Pacific Northwest by Thursday, bringing another round of precipitation to the region. Campbell Graphics available at www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/basicwx/basicwx_wbg.php