Short Range Forecast Discussion NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD 350 AM EDT Sat May 23 2020 Valid 12Z Sat May 23 2020 - 12Z Mon May 25 2020 ...Rain and thunderstorms expected across the Plains, with severe weather and flash flooding both possible... ...Showers, mountain snow, and below-average temperatures for the Northern Rockies... ...Critical fire weather forecast for the Southern High Plains... A strong but slow-moving cold front will continue advancing across the Rockies and Plains through the weekend. Moisture inflow and warmer than average temperatures ahead of this front should support thunderstorms throughout much of the Plains in particular. Slight Risks of severe weather and flash flooding are in place over portions of the Plains and into the Middle Mississippi Valley over the next couple of days. Scattered showers and thunderstorms are also possible across much of the eastern half of the nation. Another area where potentially severe thunderstorms causing flash flooding could focus today is across northern Illinois in the vicinity of a surface low pressure center. Behind the cold front, cooler than average temperatures are expected across the Intermountain West to Northern/Central Rockies. Highs today are forecast to be 10 to 25 degrees below average. The cold temperatures will support snow across higher elevations of the Northern and Central Rockies. Additional snow could approach a foot in the Wind River Mountains, while the Central Rockies could see 4 to 8 inches of snow. Farther south, dry and windy conditions are expected for the Four Corners and Southern High Plains, which could lead to fire danger, and there is a Critical Risk area outlined by the Storm Prediction Center. Red Flag Warnings are also in effect for portions of the Southern and Central High Plains. Tate Graphics available at www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/basicwx/basicwx_ndfd.php