Short Range Forecast Discussion NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD 355 AM EDT Wed Jun 14 2017 Valid 12Z Wed Jun 14 2017 - 12Z Fri Jun 16 2017 ...Severe thunderstorms and heavy rain possible for portions of the Plains and the Midwest... ...Cooler temperatures expected for the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast over the next couple days while the central U.S. remains above average... Scattered showers and thunderstorms are forecast for much of the northern/central U.S. as an advancing front lifts through the Upper Midwest. A region spanning from Minnesota to Missouri and east to Michigan will have favorable conditions for strong to severe thunderstorms, along with embedded areas of heavy rain, to develop this afternoon and evening. Please refer to products issued by the SPC for further details on the severe weather threat. The southern half of the trailing front will stall over the Central/Southern Plains and will provide a focus for convection on Thursday - with some of the storms becoming severe over western Missouri/eastern Kansas/northern Oklahoma. Heavy rain will also be possible over Missouri. As the northern portions of the system moves east, showers and thunderstorms are expected to become more widespread across the lower Great Lakes, Ohio valley, and the central Appalachians on Thursday. Average temperatures across much of the central U.S. remain in the 80s and 90s. The recent heat observed along the East Coast will ease up as cooler air filters into the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic over the next few days with a backdoor cold front. Many locations will have highs mainly in the 80s today before hovering in the 70s on Thursday. Showers and a few thunderstorms will be possible across the Mid-Atlantic regions over the next couple of days. Rain will be likely by Thursday evening for much of the Appalachians and surrounding areas. Rain and elevated snow will continue to taper off across the West this morning. Most locations west of the Continental Divide will remain dry until a Pacific low pressure system approaches the Northwest tonight into Thursday, spreading rain showers inland. A vast portion of California, southern Nevada and southern Arizona have excessive heat watches in effect. In contrast, freeze warning ares in effect for portions of south-central Oregon and northern Nevada. Campbell Graphics available at www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/basicwx/basicwx_ndfd.php