Short Range Forecast Discussion NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD 350 PM EDT Wed Apr 26 2017 Valid 00Z Thu Apr 27 2017 - 00Z Sat Apr 29 2017 ...Heavy rain and storms for the central U.S., and snow for the Rocky Mountains... An active weather pattern will be upon us through the end of the week. A cold front currently crossing the Midwest is forecast to continue pushing east towards the Appalachians on Thursday. A band of showers and storms, with some producing heavy rainfall, will be likely from Mississippi to Indiana, and lighter rainfall amounts towards the East Coast. By Friday, another surface low intensifies over the southern Plains and this system will be able to advect more deep moisture from the Gulf of Mexico northward. Heavy rainfall and severe weather are expected by Friday night across the central and southern Plains Winter weather is still upon us for the higher elevations of the western U.S. through Friday, especially the northern and central Rockies. Some of the highest elevations could receive in excess of a foot of snow over the next two days. Mixed precipitation is likely across the northern portions of Minnesota through early Thursday. Temperatures will continue to be below normal across the north-central part of the nation. A low pressure system situated near the Northeast U.S. coast will continue to weaken through Thursday, with lingering clouds and light rain Wednesday night and into early Thursday. After this system departs, a major warming trend is expected for the end of the week, with highs well into the 80s for many areas, along with noticeable levels of humidity. Hamrick Graphics available at www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/basicwx/basicwx_ndfd.php