Short Range Forecast Discussion NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD 408 AM EDT Sat Jul 01 2017 Valid 12Z Sat Jul 01 2017 - 12Z Mon Jul 03 2017 ...Strong to severe thunderstorms could lead to flash flooding today in the southern Plains... ...Showers and thunderstorms are expected to move across the eastern U.S. today ahead of a cold front... A cold front is forecast to move steadily eastward from the Ohio Valley toward the East Coast today ahead of a broad upper-level trough. Much of the eastern U.S. will see showers and thunderstorms today. Northern New England will have the best chance of seeing the heaviest rain today which could lead to localized flooding. Farther down the East Coast, the rain ahead of the broad upper trough will cover a wide area but the coverage remain somewhat scattered in nature. The cold front is forecast to reach the East Coast Sunday morning, bringing much of the rain out to sea. However, the front is expected to become almost stationary thereafter, with the trailing portion extends westward into northern Texas. This will keep the heat and very humid air across the Deep South and Florida where scattered thunderstorms can be expected to persist expecially in the afternoon into the evening. Meanwhile, the strongest thunderstorms are expected to be across the southern Plains near the western end of a stationary front. Cooler and drier air will then move into the Midwest, Ohio Valley and into the Mid-Atlantic and much of New England on Sunday. However, some thunderstorms can be expected across the upper Midwest into the Great Lakes with the arrival of a secondary cold front. Meanwhile, the western U.S. will continue to be quiet weatherwise, with high temperatures 10 degrees above normal across the Intermountain West and the northern Rockies. It will continue to be dry, though some scattered showers and thunderstorms are possible for the Intermountain West, particularly on Saturday afternoon. Fire danger will remain high in the Desert Southwest. Kong Graphics available at www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/basicwx/basicwx_ndfd.php