Short Range Forecast Discussion NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD 354 PM EDT Sat Apr 25 2020 Valid 00Z Sun Apr 26 2020 - 00Z Tue Apr 28 2020 ...There is an Slight Risk of severe thunderstorms over parts of the Tennessee Valley and Southern Appalachians... ...Heavy snow for parts of the mountains of New York and New England... ...Record heat possible in parts of the Southwest, March-like temperatures in the Northeast and Ohio Valley on Sunday... The headlining weather story in the eastern U.S. is the track and development of a storm system in the Middle Mississippi Valley this afternoon. Periods of rain will soak the Ohio Valley while the Tennessee Valley and southern Appalachians are at risk for potential severe weather this evening. The storm will move east and a new wave of low pressure is expected to form along an occluded front passing over the Mid-Atlantic tonight. Areas of showers and thunderstorms will march east as a result, and by Sunday the storm should be located near the Northeast coast. Residents from the Ohio Valley to the New England coast can anticipate a rough Sunday weather-wise with widespread showers, gusty winds, and cool temperatures. On the northern flank of the storm, precipitation is forecast to fall in the form of snow or a wintry mix over interior Northeast. From the Catskills and Adirondacks to northern Maine, late season snowfall is expected to accumulate Sunday and into Monday in the higher elevations of the region. The heaviest totals are forecast to reside in the Green and White mountains of northern New England where Winter Storm Watches and Winter Weather Advisories are in effect. The storm should linger off the New England coast through Monday with residual shower activity possible over the Northeast megalopolis. Spotty rain and snow showers may stick around in New England into Tuesday morning. Out west, a dome of well above normal temperatures will maintain a stronghold over the Southwest and Great Basin through the weekend and into the start of next week. Forecast highs in the Desert Southwest each day this weekend should at the very least be in the 80s while some spots surpass the century mark and/or challenge daily record high temps. In fact, Excessive Heat Warnings have been issued for the Phoenix metro area and portions of the far Lower Colorado River Valley on Sunday. The High Plains are cool today but warmer temperatures will return on Sunday and persist into the start of the upcoming week. Northern and central New Mexico are also at risk for elevated fire weather conditions on Sunday. While the Southwest and some locations of the Intermountain West bask in summer-like temperatures, those from the Mississippi River to the Northeast will contend with below normal temperatures, some of which will range between 10 and 15 degrees below normal. Mullinax Graphics available at www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/basicwx/basicwx_ndfd.php