Short Range Forecast Discussion NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD 310 PM EST Mon Dec 04 2017 Valid 00Z Tue Dec 05 2017 - 00Z Thu Dec 07 2017 ...Heavy rain and snow to be delivered throughout the eastern U.S. as an impressive storm system sweeps across these regions... A strong cold front moving over the Mississippi Valley will continue its eastward trek toward the East Coast through midweek. On Monday evening, showers and thunderstorms will move from the Upper Midwest to the southern Plains. Some of the convective activity in the lower Mississippi Valley may give way to flash flooding--creating a marginal risk for flash flooding. Areas north and west of the low, specifically in the northern/central Plains and parts of the Upper Midwest, can expect light to moderate snow tonight and into tomorrow. As the surface low lifts north into Canada, a westward flow will promote lake effect snow over the Great Lakes on Tuesday and Wednesday. Please see WPC's winter weather products for more information. By Tuesday, the cold front will stretch from the Northeast to the southern Plains. The line of convection will persist along and ahead of the boundary. Heavy rainfall may develop in parts of the Southeast on Tuesday afternoon--thus a marginal risk of flash flooding is possible. In addition, precipitation is expected to spread across the Southeast, Mid-Atlantic, and Northeast throughout the day. By Wednesday morning, most of the precipitation will move off the East Coast as the front exits to the Atlantic. However, the cold front will push southward over Florida--bringing showers and thunderstorms with it. Lingering showers in central and southeast Texas will carry on into Wednesday. However, some precipitation especially in West Texas could be snow as cold temperatures spill into the western portions of the state. Once again, see WPC's winter weather products. Temperatures behind the cold front are expected to be 5 to 10 degrees cooler than normal--which most areas will experience by Tuesday and Wednesday. Temperatures along the West Coast will be 5 to 10 degrees above normal. Unfortunately, a warm and dry pattern will continue to be in place across southern California. Consequently, critical fire weather conditions are expected through the short term period. Reinhart Graphics available at www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/basicwx/basicwx_ndfd.php