Short Range Forecast Discussion NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD 402 AM EDT Mon Jul 09 2018 Valid 12Z Mon Jul 09 2018 - 12Z Wed Jul 11 2018 ...There is a slight risk of severe thunderstorms over parts of the Upper Mississippi Valley and parts of the Southwest... ...Tropical Storm Chris will strengthen to a hurricane today offshore of the Carolinas... Coastal areas of the Mid-Atlantic region may have bands of rain in association to Tropical Storm Chris this afternoon; however, as it strengthens to a hurricane, the chances for rain will decrease as the system tracks further east. Showers and thunderstorms will fire along a cold front passing through the Upper Mississippi Valley and Great Lakes today and across portions of the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic and Tennessee Valley Tuesday into Wednesday. Cooler and drier air will filter in behind the front by midweek. Scattered to widespread showers and thunderstorms are expected across much of the southern states as warm Gulf moisture lifts over a stalled frontal boundary. Periods of higher rainfall rates may be possible, which would increase the risk for flash flooding. Another round of showers and thunderstorms will develop across the Northern High Plains as cold front lifts out of the Rockies and into the adjacent Plains. Some of the these storms may become severe and possible capable of producing heavy rain and flash flooding. The Storm Prediction Center was issued a slight risk for severe weather for portions of Montana and North Dakota. Please refer to the SPC webpage for additional information of the severe weather risk. Additionally, monsoonal moisture and daytime heating will produce showers and thunderstorms over parts of the Central/Southern Rockies and parts of the Great Basin/Southwest through Tuesday. The areal coverage of the thunderstorms will be at the greatest during the late afternoon into the late evening on Sunday and Monday. Campbell Graphics available at www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/basicwx/basicwx_ndfd.php