Short Range Forecast Discussion NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD 356 PM EDT Tue Sep 05 2017 Valid 00Z Wed Sep 06 2017 - 00Z Fri Sep 08 2017 ...There is a slight risk of severe thunderstorms for portions of the Northeast Tuesday evening... ...Heavy rainfall possible from the Northeast to the southern Appalachians Tuesday and Wednesday from the Northeast to the Gulf Coast... ...Temperatures continuing to be well above normal for the Western U.S.... Widespread showers and thunderstorms are expected ahead of a strong cold front pushing slowly eastward across the Eastern U.S. this evening and into Wednesday. Thunderstorms will be capable of both severe weather and heavy rainfall as the front nearly stalls along the East coast by this evening and into Wednesday, eventually pushing offshore by Thursday. SPC is highlighting areas along and ahead of the front in a marginal to slight risk for severe weather, and WPC is highlighting the same regions in a marginal to slight risk for flash flooding. Please see products issued by these centers for more details. To the south, showers and thunderstorms will also be possible across Florida and the Gulf Coast as the southern edge of the cold front moves through on Wednesday. And to the west, the upper level system behind this front moves slowly across the Great Lakes region which should keep showers and thunderstorms in the forecast up there through much of the short range period. Behind the front, temperatures across the eastern half of the nation are expected to be as much as 5 to 10 degrees below normal. Out west, strong upper level ridging will keep temperatures well above normal along and west of the Rockies with afternoon high values expected to be 10 to 20 degrees above normal for much of the Pacific Northwest. Heat advisories, red flag warnings, and air quality alerts are in effect. Much of the Northwest will remain dry through the middle of the week but monsoonal moisture should bring mainly diurnally driven showers and thunderstorms across the southern Rockies and the Southwest. By Thursday, a system moving towards central California may also increase moisture across the central West Coast which should also help to moderate the temperatures. Santorelli Graphics available at www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/basicwx/basicwx_ndfd.php