Short Range Forecast Discussion NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD 427 PM EDT Mon Apr 27 2020 Valid 00Z Tue Apr 28 2020 - 00Z Thu Apr 30 2020 ...Lingering rain and higher elevation wet snow through tonight over New England will gradually taper off on Tuesday... ...Much above normal temperatures continue across the Southwest... ...Increasing threat of strong to severe thunderstorms with heavy rain across the central and southern Plains toward the Mississippi Valley later on Tuesday into early Wednesday... A coastal storm centered just off the New England coast will be slow to move out to sea. Rain and higher elevation wet snow will continue through tonight across New England before gradually tapering off on Tuesday. Temperatures will remain below normal as the coastal storm departs on Tuesday followed by increasing clouds on Wednesday as a moderately strong but large low pressure system approaches from the west. The aforementioned low pressure system will become the main weather story across the central to eastern U.S. during the next few days. This storm is forecast to begin intensifying across the Plains on Tuesday as an upper-level trough dives into the northern and central Plains while ingesting very warm and moisture air from the Gulf of Mexico. Areas from the central and southern Plains eastward into the Mississippi Valley will be under an increasing threat of strong to severe thunderstorms along with heavy rain later on Tuesday into early Wednesday ahead of a cold front. By Wednesday, the highest threat of heavy rain and thunderstorms should be pushing east of the lower Mississippi Valley toward the interior Southeast. Meanwhile, rain and some thunderstorms will be spreading across the Great Lakes ahead of the intensifying storm. Many areas of the East Coast will begin to see rain arriving later on Wednesday. Very warm temperatures are forecast for the the mid-Atlantic southward on Wednesday but cool and damp conditions will continue across much of the Northeast. Meanwhile, much above normal temperatures will continue in the Desert Southwest as upper-level ridging lingers over the region through Wednesday. Forecast high temperatures for much of California, the Great Basin eastward to western Texas will be in the 80s and 90s while many areas in the Desert Southwest will surpass the century mark. These readings will challenge daily record high temperatures. Excessive Heat Warnings remain in effect for a large portion of the Desert Southwest. Meanwhile, New Mexico will remain at risk for wildfires through Tuesday morning. The fire weather threat will shift northward across the northern and central High Plains and nearby Rockies behind a developing low pressure system. Meanwhile, the very warm air will spill into the southern Plains on Tuesday before cooler air arriving on Wednesday behind a cold front. Kong Graphics available at www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/basicwx/basicwx_ndfd.php