Short Range Forecast Discussion NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD 331 AM EDT Sat Sep 16 2017 Valid 12Z Sat Sep 16 2017 - 12Z Mon Sep 18 2017 ...Heavy rainfall along with severe weather possible from the Mississippi Valley to the Plains... ...Light snow still expected over the Northern Rockies in addition to the Cascades... As an upper level low continues to slide eastward from the Intermountain West to the Upper Midwest, a surface cold front will also follow suit. Initially, the frontal boundary will push across the Upper/Middle Mississippi Valley. This boundary will be the focus for showers and thunderstorms to continue along it throughout the weekend. Expect the line of convection to expand from the Upper Great Lakes to the Southern Plains by late Saturday night and into Sunday morning. There is a a slight risk of severe weather with these thunderstorms on Saturday--with the marginal risk of flash flooding across the Upper Midwest to the Middle Mississippi Valley. Showers and thunderstorms will continue to move across the Great Lakes as the cold front sweeps over this region on Sunday. By Monday morning, expect most of the precipitation to occur in the Lower Great Lakes, western portions of the Ohio valley and into the Central Plains. Lighter precipitation will linger across the Northern Rockies and Intermountain West on Saturday and will completely taper off by early Sunday morning. Consequently, light snowfall is expected in the Northern Rockies. As a frontal system approaches the Pacific Northwest by Sunday evening, precipitation will begin to increase across the region. By Monday morning, a cold front will progress eastward towards the Intermountain West--giving way to scattered showers and higher elevation snowfall throughout the Pacific Northwest. The light snowfall will occur along the Cascades on Sunday and Monday--with an increase in light snow showers across the Northern Rockies on Monday as the front, and precipitation, continues to move farther east. Meanwhile, the Gulf Coast region can expect scattered showers and thunderstorms in the early afternoon/evening time frame through the weekend. As Hurricane Jose approaches the East Coast, dangerous surf and rip current conditions can be expected throughout the weekend. The coastal portions of the Carolinas may also begin to see precipitation ahead of Jose early Sunday. The coverage of rainfall will increase and the coastal Carolinas could see some light showers throughout Sunday and into Monday. Reinhart Graphics available at www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/basicwx/basicwx_ndfd.php