Short Range Forecast Discussion NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD 344 AM EDT Thu Sep 21 2017 Valid 12Z Thu Sep 21 2017 - 12Z Sat Sep 23 2017 ...Tropical Storm Jose will produce dangerous surf conditions and rip currents along with rain across southeast Massachusetts... ...Heavy snow possible in the higher elevations of the Northern Rockies... ...Severe storms possible across the Upper Midwest and northern Plains... Tropical Storm Jose will continue to stay well off New England's coast over the short term period--although its affects will still be felt. Heavy rainfall from the western edge of Jose will impact mainly southeast Massachusetts each day. In addition, dangerous surf conditions and rip currents will continue to be a hazard for the Northeast coast through tonight. For the most current information on Jose, please see the National Hurricane Center (www.hurricanes.gov). On Thursday, a cold front will move southeastward across the northern Rockies and Central Great Basin--with precipitation following behind it. Rain along with higher elevation snow can be expected. Scattered to widespread showers and higher elevation snow will fall across these regions through early Friday morning. As the front moves into the Plains, lighter precipitation amounts will linger in the Intermountain West--especially along the Northern Rockies in addition to parts of the Central Great Basin. By Saturday morning, lighter showers and higher elevation snow will shift to the Central Rockies as the front slowly moves eastward into the Plains. A large upper level trough will be centered over the western U.S. and slowly move eastward over the short term period. On Friday, deep moisture from the Gulf of Mexico will be transported ahead of this large trough throughout the Plains and Mississippi Valley along with instability. A cold front will traverse over the northern and central Plains during the day on Friday and will act as a focus for setting off convection along and ahead of it across the Plains and New Mexico. This line of showers and thunderstorms will continue to impact regions from the Upper Midwest and into southern New Mexico overnight and into Saturday morning. A slight risk of severe thunderstorms will be possible in portions of the Upper Midwest and northern Plains--with the primary threat being gusty winds and hail. There is also a marginal risk of severe weather from the central Plains to extreme West Texas. See the Storm Prediction Center for more information on severe weather associated with this system. In addition, there is a marginal risk of flash flooding across the Upper Midwest and eastern portions of the northern Plains along with eastern New Mexico/West Texas/and parts of the southern Plains. Reinhart Graphics available at www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/basicwx/basicwx_ndfd.php