Short Range Forecast Discussion NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD 256 PM EST Tue Feb 06 2018 Valid 00Z Wed Feb 07 2018 - 00Z Fri Feb 09 2018 ...A slight risk of flash flooding is in effect for the Lower Mississippi Valley through Tuesday night... ...Winter weather will impact the Lower Mississippi Valley, Ohio Valley, and Northeast Tuesday night and Wednesday... ...Snow continues for the Northern Rockies, spreading eastward into the Northern Plains and Upper Mississippi Valley by Thursday... Through tonight, widespread rain and thunderstorms are expected for eastern Texas through the Lower Mississippi Valley. This is due to the combination of plenty of moisture, upper-level energy, and a surface low pressure system with slow moving fronts. Some thunderstorms could cause locally heavy rain and even flash flooding where storms linger in the same area. A few storms could be strong with small hail as well. Rain and thunderstorms will spread into the Southeast on Wednesday as the low and cold front move northeast, and locally heavy rain and a few strong storms are possible. Winter weather is forecast north of the fronts and surface low where cold air is in place at the ground. Accumulating freezing rain is possible for portions of the Lower Mississippi Valley and stretching into parts of the Ohio Valley, northern Mid-Atlantic, and Northeast. Some locations are expected to receive over a quarter inch of freezing rain, particularly in portions of the Ohio Valley and Central Appalachians. North of the freezing rain threat, snow is likely. Some snow will occur for the Upper and Middle Mississippi Valley and Great Lakes regions, but the heaviest snow will be located in the interior Northeast, where 6 to 10 inches of snow is forecast through Wednesday night. Over the next few days, rain and mainly snow will continue in the Northern Rockies, aided by a stationary front just east of the higher terrain of the Rockies. The highest peaks could receive 1-2 feet of snow over the next couple of days. Upper-level energy will push this front a bit southward on Wednesday night and Thursday, and the front will start to build eastward as well. North of the front, snow is expected to overspread portions of the Plains, Mississippi Valley, and Great Lakes by Thursday. Temperature-wise, the western U.S. will continue to be warm over the next few days, particularly by Thursday when temperatures will be 10-20 degrees above average. A few record highs could even be set. The central U.S. will be generally cooler than average, and the cool air will spread to the eastern U.S. by Thursday as the cold front tracks eastward. Tate Graphics available at www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/basicwx/basicwx_ndfd.php