Short Range Forecast Discussion NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD 352 AM EDT Wed Sep 26 2018 Valid 12Z Wed Sep 26 2018 - 12Z Fri Sep 28 2018 ...Severe thunderstorms possible across the Northeast on Wednesday, with heavy to excessive rainfall possible Wednesday and Thursday across the Southern Appalachians... ...Well below normal temperatures expected across the Southern Plains and also the northern High Plains... Widespread showers and thunderstorms are expected along a cold front pushing into the Eastern U.S. today. Severe thunderstorms and locally heavy rainfall are possible along this boundary across the Northeast today, and the Storm Prediction Center has highlighted much of this area within a marginal to slight risk. The southern portion of this boundary is forecast to stall from the Mid-Atlantic to the central Gulf Coast, which should keep showers and storms in the forecast for Thursday too across this region. Heavy to possibly excessive rainfall is possible, especially from the Tennessee Valley to the southern Appalachians, where WPC has a slight risk for flash flooding both Wednesday and Thursday. The backside of this front features a rather chilly airmass for this time of the year, with daytime high temperatures as much as 10 to 20+ degrees below normal expected across the Southern Plains states on Wednesday. Another cold front dips into the northern tier states by Thursday, with scattered showers expected along the boundary from the Upper Great Lakes to the Northern Rockies. This front also brings in a reinforcing shot of cold Canadian air which may allow for snow to mix in across the higher elevations. Temperatures across the Northern High Plains could be 10 to 15 degrees below normal by Thursday. Meanwhile out west, upper level ridging holds strong through Friday which means conditions remain warm and dry. An elevated fire weather threat continues as well, especially for portions of the Central Rockies and Northern California, where a handful of Red Flag warnings are in effect. Santorelli Graphics available at www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/basicwx/basicwx_ndfd.php