Short Range Forecast Discussion NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD 354 AM EDT Tue Jun 16 2020 Valid 12Z Tue Jun 16 2020 - 12Z Thu Jun 18 2020 ...Periods of rain and considerably cool temperatures over the Southeast and Southern Mid-Atlantic... ...Damp, dreary, and cool in the Northwest and northern Rockies... ...Hot conditions throughout the central and northern Plains, severe storms in the Dakotas, fire weather concerns in the Southwest and central High Plains... A pesky cut-off upper low over the Southeast is in no hurry to leave just yet, keeping below normal temperatures and wet conditions in the forecast across the southern Mid-Atlantic. The seemingly endless supply of moisture looks to drop an additional 2 to 5 inches of rain in eastern North Carolina through mid-week with flash flooding also possible. The upper low and an associated surface low off the Carolina coast will slowly drift north by Wednesday, causing the axis of heavy rainfall to head north into southern and central Virginia. Rainfall totals ranging between 1 to 2 inches are possible along the Blue Ridge mountains of western Virginia. Temperatures feel more like April rather than mid-June in parts of the Carolinas and southern Virginia. Some record low maximum temperatures are possible as highs struggle to reach 70 degrees for some of these areas. Temperatures will slowly but surely rise throughout the week, but any temperatures returning to normal levels may have to wait until the weekend. The northwestern U.S. will also witness cooler weather for this time of year courtesy of another upper low and cold frontal passage. Some of the highest elevations of the northern Rockies may receive accumulating snow, particularly for central Idaho and southwest Montana today where winter storm watches remain in effect this morning. While seasonally cool temperatures look to stick around in the northern Rockies, the Pacific Northwest along with northern and central California should see temperatures rebound more seasonal levels on Wednesday, and then above normal by the second half of the week. Elsewhere across the Lower 48, the Great Plains and Upper Midwest find themselves in the warm sector ahead of an approaching cold front over the Rockies. This is forcing much above normal temperatures to transpire for many areas from Kansas and Colorado to Minnesota ahead of this front, with widespread 90s on tap. Some severe weather is also possible across the Dakotas through Wednesday as the front slowly progresses eastward. To the Southwest, elevated to critical fire weather conditions, thanks to prolonged breezy and very dry conditions. Red Flag warnings remain in effect from Nevada to the high plains of eastern Colorado and western Kansas. Mullinax Graphics available at www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/basicwx/basicwx_ndfd.php