Short Range Forecast Discussion NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD 359 PM EDT Thu May 03 2018 Valid 00Z Fri May 04 2018 - 00Z Sun May 06 2018 ...Thunderstorms along front could be severe and cause flash flooding for parts of the Mississippi Valley... ...Critical fire weather conditions continue through Thursday evening in the Southern High Plains... ...Above average temperatures for much of the U.S. by the end of the week... The front that has been lingering across the Plains into the Upper Midwest will begin pushing more quickly eastward on Thursday night and Friday ahead of an upper-level trough. This front will continue to cause rain and thunderstorms along it over the next couple of days. On Thursday and Thursday night, severe weather is forecast for portions of the Plains and Mississippi Valley, as well as in the Northeast to the south of a stationary front along the Lower Great Lakes region. See the Storm Prediction Center's website for more information on the severe weather threat. There are also slight risks of flash flooding in parts of the Mississippi Valley and in the Upper Midwest. On Friday, heavy rain and flash flooding will be possible for portions of Texas. A few storms could be severe in the Ohio Valley to Northeast. By Saturday, showers and thunderstorms are forecast for the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic along the front, but should remain below severe weather criteria. The fire weather threat is forecast to remain critical through Thursday evening where dry conditions remain in the Southern High Plains. On Friday, the fire weather threat will be elevated over the Northern Plains, as low relative humidities are expected there. The Mid-Atlantic and Northeast will continue to see high temperatures 15 to 25 degrees above average on Friday, with some record highs possible. Record high minimum temperatures are expected from the Ohio Valley into the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast with warm Friday morning lows. The cold front passing through will bring temperatures down into the 70s and lower 80s for highs in the Mid-Atlantic on Saturday. Temperatures 10 to 20 degrees above average are forecast for the Intermountain West, Northern Plains, and Upper Midwest on Friday and Saturday. Temperatures in the Southwest are expected to be over 100 degrees by Saturday. Texas will be the main place cooler than average through the end of the week. Tate Graphics available at www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/basicwx/basicwx_ndfd.php