Short Range Forecast Discussion NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD 358 PM EDT Sat Oct 21 2017 Valid 00Z Sun Oct 22 2017 - 00Z Tue Oct 24 2017 ...Severe thunderstorms and flash flooding possible for parts of the Plains and Mississippi Valley through Saturday night... ...Heavy rain and higher elevation snow continue for the Northwest through Sunday night... A cold front making its way through the Plains will continue to move eastward over the next couple of days, making its way into the Mississippi Valley by Sunday morning and into the Ohio Valley and Southeast by Monday morning. This cold front and an upper-level trough will support widespread rain and thunderstorms along and ahead of the front. Through Saturday night, there is an enhanced risk of severe thunderstorms and a slight risk of flash flooding for portions of the Southern Plains to the western Middle Mississippi Valley. See the Storm Prediction Center for details on the severe threat. The risk for heavy rainfall that could cause flash flooding will shift eastward ahead of the cold front. The Lower Mississippi Valley is under a slight risk for excessive rainfall Sunday into Sunday night, and on Monday, portions of the Southeast and Tennessee Valley are under a slight risk. The Pacific Northwest will continue to see heavy rain through Sunday morning, which could cause flooding since several inches of rain are forecast in some areas. The Northern Rockies will see heavy precipitation as well, but some of this will fall as snow for the higher elevations. The Northwest is expected to dry out by Monday afternoon. Elsewhere, hot, dry, and windy conditions will lead to fire concerns along the southern and central California coast over the next few days. Much of the U.S. is expected to be warmer than normal, with high temperatures up to 20 degrees above average in the Northeast. Scattered thunderstorms will persist in Florida, as easterly flow and plenty of moisture continue. Tate Graphics available at www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/basicwx/basicwx_ndfd.php