Short Range Forecast Discussion NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD 358 PM EDT Tue May 01 2018 Valid 00Z Wed May 02 2018 - 00Z Fri May 04 2018 ...Severe thunderstorms likely and flash flooding possible for Plains to Mississippi Valley... ...Heavy snow forecast for higher elevations of the Wasatch, San Juan, and Central Rocky Mountains... ...Critical fire weather conditions continue through Wednesday for the Southern High Plains... A slow-moving cold front across the Upper Mississippi Valley and Central Plains will lead to rounds of rain and thunderstorms along and ahead of it. The Storm Prediction Center is forecasting moderate risks of severe weather in central Kansas through Tuesday night and in northeastern Nebraska/northwestern Missouri on Wednesday embedded within larger areas of possible severe weather throughout the Plains and Mississippi Valley. See the Storm Prediction Center's website for more information on the severe weather threat. Heavy rain is also forecast, and flash flooding will be possible in areas where storms will be slow-moving. A slight risk of excessive rainfall/flash flooding is in effect through Tuesday night in portions of the Central Plains and into the Middle to Upper Mississippi Valley. A marginal risk of flash flooding is forecast for Wednesday, with some locally heavy rain. An upper-level low will continue moving eastward through the southwestern U.S., leading to scattered showers and and thunderstorms in the valleys, as well as mountain snow in much of the West on Tuesday and Wednesday. Rainfall amounts are generally expected to be less than an inch. However, late season heavy snow is forecast for higher elevations of Utah, Colorado, and southern Wyoming. Over a foot of snow is possible in the San Juan Mountains and the Central Rockies. Behind the dryline, low relative humidity and gusty winds will lead to continued elevated to critical fire weather conditions for the Southern High Plains Tuesday and Wednesday. There is also an elevated fire weather threat for portions of the Ohio Valley and Lower Great Lakes through Tuesday evening, as high temperatures are 15 to 25 degrees above average there. Red Flag Warnings are in effect for both of these regions. Warm temperatures will spread eastward into the Northeast on Wednesday and Thursday, with high temperatures 15 to 25 degrees above average. Even the mornings will be warm; many record high minimum temperatures are forecast to be broken on Thursday morning in the Ohio Valley to the Northeast. Tate Graphics available at www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/basicwx/basicwx_ndfd.php