Short Range Forecast Discussion NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD 353 PM EDT Tue Mar 31 2020 Valid 00Z Wed Apr 01 2020 - 00Z Fri Apr 03 2020 ...Severe weather possible through tonight in the Southeast... ...Heavy snows and cold temperatures will spread from the Northwest into the Northern Plains over the next couple of days... A surface low pressure system will continue moving eastward quickly across the Southeast this afternoon and tonight, and severe weather is possible in its vicinity. The Storm Prediction Center has outlooked a Slight Risk of severe weather across northern Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina. As the low tracks into the Atlantic, it should sweep a cold front across Florida, tempering the much above normal temperatures there. The low is expected to strengthen rapidly, but remain fairly far offshore in the Atlantic. Nevertheless, rain and windy conditions could continue over the Outer Banks of North Carolina due to this low through Wednesday, and rain and wet snow is possible over New England through Thursday from the influence of this low. Active weather is expected for the Northwest as frontal systems make their way through across the area. These fronts and the upper-level low above should also cause much below normal temperatures there. Widespread precipitation will thus fall mainly in the form of snow except in the lowest elevations in the Northwest over the next couple of days. As the fronts and upper low progress eastward, snow is forecast for the Dakotas into western Nebraska by Thursday. Snowfall amounts should be over a foot in higher elevations of the Cascades, Northern Rockies, Wind River Mountains/Tetons, and Big Horn Mountains. Much of the Northern High Plains should receive generally 2 to 6 inches of snow, with higher amounts in the Black Hills. Ahead of the cold front, above normal temperatures are expected in the Southwest to Southern/Central Plains and part of the Mississippi Valley. Meanwhile, the Eastern Seaboard will remain somewhat cooler than normal with generally northerly winds. Showers and thunderstorms could form on Thursday east of the cold front and a developing dryline across the Southern/Central Plains and the Mississippi Valley. Tate Graphics available at www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/basicwx/basicwx_ndfd.php