Short Range Forecast Discussion NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD 344 AM EDT Wed Sep 27 2017 Valid 12Z Wed Sep 27 2017 - 12Z Fri Sep 29 2017 ...Pattern change underway across the continental U.S. through Thursday... Heavy rainfall is expected across central and western Texas, where deep moisture streaming northward from former Tropical Storm Pilar will contribute to heavier rainfall amounts, with amounts possibly in excess of 3 inches between now and Thursday afternoon. A frontal boundary draped across the region will serve as a focusing mechanism for ascent and thus organized heavy rain. Flash flooding is possible across this region, especially where storms track over the same area repeatedly, and WPC has a moderate risk of excessive rainfall on Wednesday across parts of southern Texas. This activity will abate some after Wednesday. The East Coast states will have one more day of unseasonably warm temperatures on Wednesday, with highs well into the 80s for many areas. A strong cold front is forecast to continue tracking eastward and reach the East Coast by Thursday afternoon, and the Gulf Coast region by Friday afternoon. This will bring a refreshing change to fall-like conditions after the recent summer-like warmth and humidity. Tropical Storm Maria is forecast to be about 150 miles east of the Outer Banks on Wednesday, and close enough to cause 35-50 mph wind gusts near the coast and some coastal flooding. It will be the front approaching from the west that causes the eastward turn for the storm later in the week. The National Hurricane Center has the latest information and forecast track regarding this hurricane. D. Hamrick Graphics available at www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/basicwx/basicwx_ndfd.php