Short Range Forecast Discussion NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD 400 PM EDT Wed Jul 11 2018 Valid 00Z Thu Jul 12 2018 - 00Z Sat Jul 14 2018 ...Hurricane Chris will contineu to track northeast over the Atlantic Ocean... ...Severe thunderstorms expected across portions of the Northern Plains and Upper Mississippi Valley through Thursday... ...Heavy rainfall and flash flooding possible across portions of the Southwest and southern Rockies... Hurricane Chris is expected to pick up the pace and track further northeast out over the Atlantic Ocean, while transitioning to a post-tropical system. As it continues to shift away from the coast, impacts will lesson along the coast lines this evening and through the overnight. For the most current information regarding Chris, visit the National Hurricane Center (www.hurricanes.gov) and the local forecast office for individual watches/warnings/advisories. A strong cold front will continue to shift eastward across the north-central U.S., resulting in the risk of severe weather across the Northern Plains and Upper Mississippi Valley tonight through Thursday. This will couple with a very moist atmosphere, and may also result in the potential of excessive rainfall and flash flooding for portions of this region through the overnight tonight. Excessive rain concerns may also continue into the day Thursday for portions of the Northern Plains. Coverage of showers and thunderstorms will increase across the Southwest through the end of the week as monsoonal moisture surges north. Heavy rainfall along the terrain could lead to flash flooding in addition to flood prone areas. By Thursday, heavy rainfall will continue in the Southwest but also begin to spread into the southern and central Rockies. There is a slight risk of flash flooding in the Southwest today with the slight risk shifting eastward by Thursday along the Rockies. Campbell/Wix Graphics available at www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/basicwx/basicwx_ndfd.php