Short Range Forecast Discussion NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD 338 AM EDT Wed Mar 22 2017 Valid 12Z Wed Mar 22 2017 - 12Z Fri Mar 24 2017 ...Rain and potential for thunderstorms across the western U.S over the next few days.... ...Thunderstorms, potentially strong-to-severe, across western portions of the Southern and Central Plains on Thursday... Coastal and valley rain will begin to taper off over portions of the Pacific Northwest/California this afternoon as a cold weakens upon moving inland. However... another disturbance entering the West/Southwest U.S. will a round of widespread precipitation to much of the western U.S. over the next few days. Some of the highest terrain could see some snow mix in with the rain, while scattered thunderstorms will be possible. Several inches of snow will be possible for the higher peaks from the Great Basin to the Central/Northern Rockies by this weekend. Snow is also expected to continue for portions of the northern Cascades during this time. Across the southern tier states a frontal boundary will slowly sage toward the gulf of Mexico over the next few days. The convergence of warm moist air from the Gulf of Mexico and colder air pushing southward from Canada, will be enough to spawn showers and thunderstorms, potentially strong, along and just north of this frontal boundary. The Storm Prediction Center has highlighted an area spanning from the Texas Panhandle to the southwest corner of Nebraska as having a slight risk for severe thunderstorm development on Thursday. Additional information on the threat for severe weather can be found on the Storm Prediction Center website (www.spc.ncep.noaa.gov). Snow is forecast to stick around portions of Maine over the next couple of days as a low pressure system lifts north and east toward the Canadian Maritimes. Cool and mainly dry conditions are expected for much of the Midwest, Great Lakes, and Ohio Valley region with a broad area of high pressure in place. Campbell Graphics available at www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/basicwx/basicwx_ndfd.php