Short Range Forecast Discussion NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD 404 AM EDT Tue Apr 04 2017 Valid 12Z Tue Apr 04 2017 - 12Z Thu Apr 06 2017 ...Threats of severe weather and flash flooding will impact portions of the Central and Southern Plains, and along the central Gulf Coast today and tonight... ...Expect snow to occur through the Rockies and portions of the Western Plains today, tapering off throughout the day and into the overnight... ...Snow, possibly mixed with rain and ice, will impact the far Northeast over the next several days... There are two main systems which will impact the weather across much of the continental U.S. over the next few days. The first is an area of low pressure that will progress across the Great Lakes today, reaching the Northeast by tonight, then shifting eastward off the Atlantic Coast by Wednesday. This will drag a cold front eastward along much of the Atlantic Seaboard today, but will also curve to the southwest and become a warm front along the Gulf Coast. The second system of concern will be located in the Southwest this morning, moving across the Southern Plains today as it continues to deepen. An associated cold front will traverse the Southern Plains today, the Lower and Mid Mississippi Valley overnight, and then across much of the eastern U.S. Wednesday into Wednesday night as the surface low shifts northeast. Concerning the first system... The associated cold front will quickly shift eastward off the central-Atlantic Seaboard today, with no weather concerns expected for much of the central Atlantic coastline after this morning. Meanwhile, farther north, closer to the low pressure center, flow off of the Atlantic Coast will be alive and well, pulling moisture well into the Great Lakes Region. Rain, heavy at times, and chances for thunderstorms can be expected from the Great Lakes, northern Mid Atlantic, and the Northeast throughout today. Given colder temperatures across the far Northeast, precipitation will change to a mixture of rain, ice, and snow. This wintry precipitation will linger over the next few days. Flood watches are in effect for portions of the Northeast, including much of New York. Winter Weather Advisories and Winter Storm warnings are also in effect farther north, mainly across portions of Maine. Meanwhile, the warm front along the Gulf Coast, associated with the same system, will allow for shower and thunderstorm chances along the Gulf Coast throughout the day today. Attention then turns to the second system traversing the southern Plains. Moisture located on the backside of the center of low pressure will result in continued snow for much of the Rockies and into the western Plains through the first part of today. As the low shifts to the east today, snow will taper off, though may linger across the highest terrain in the central Rockies into the overnight. Winter Weather Advisories and Winter Storm warnings are in effect for much of Colorado and southward into Northern Arizona. Meanwhile, just to the east, the pull of warm moist air off of the Gulf of Mexico ahead of the low pressure system, will allow for scattered showers and thunderstorms across the central and southern Plains. These showers and thunderstorms will intensify throughout the afternoon/evening, and even into the overnight, as the system gains strength and begins to interact with the warm unstable airmass in place across the East-Central U.S. Showers and thunderstorms will move into the Mississippi Valley Region overnight, and then fill in across much of the eastern U.S. Wednesday into Thursday. The Storm Prediction Center has placed an Enhanced Risk for severe weather across portions of Northeast Oklahoma, Southeastern Kansas, and far southwestern Missouri for the strong storm potential this afternoon, with a Slight Risk in place from western Oklahoma northeastward into Central Missouri. Another Enhanced Risk of severe weather exists for portions of Southeastern Mississippi and Southwestern Alabama for late tonight/early Wednesday morning as the cold front continues eastward. A Slight Risk also in place across portions of the Gulf States for this time as well. Please refer to the Storm Prediction Website for more information concerning severe storm potential (www.spc.ncep.noaa.gov). The Weather Prediction Center has also outlined portions of eastern Kansas in a Slight Risk for excessive rainfall (exceeding flash flood guidance) for today, with a Marginal Risk stretching from southwestern Kansas, across much of Missouri, and into west-central Illinois. Wix Graphics available at www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/basicwx/basicwx_ndfd.php