Short Range Forecast Discussion NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD 340 PM EDT Mon Apr 26 2021 Valid 00Z Tue Apr 27 2021 - 00Z Thu Apr 29 2021 ...Severe thunderstorms and flash flooding possible across the Southern Plains on Tuesday before shifting into the Middle Mississippi Valley and western Ohio Valley on Wednesday... ...Widespread fire danger remains a concern for the Four Corners region and southern High Plains through Tuesday... ...Above normal temperatures to spread across much of the eastern U.S. to start the week, while below average temperatures linger over the Southwest... An upper-level low currently located over the Intermountain West and a slow-moving frontal boundary extending from the Ohio Valley to the Southwest will be the focus for active weather over the next few days. Rain and snow showers are forecast to continue over the Rockies, Great Basin, and Southwest through Wednesday morning. Snow could be heavy at times across mountain ranges throughout the central Rockies and central Great Basin, where over 6 inches of total snowfall is likely. Meanwhile, as the upper-level low sinks into the Southwest on Tuesday it will funnel atmospheric moisture into the southern Plains. This will aid in thunderstorm development along a dryline located across West Texas. The Storm Prediction Center has issued a Slight Risk of severe thunderstorms that extends from south-central Kansas to central Texas. Thunderstorms in this region on Tuesday could produce damaging wind gusts, large hail, and isolated tornadoes. A few instances of flash flooding will be possible as well, particularly across southeast Kansas, central Oklahoma, and north-central Texas. By Wednesday the stormy weather will slowly shift eastward and into the Middle Mississippi and Ohio valleys, with showers and thunderstorms remaining across the southern Plains as well. Multiple rounds of heavy rain are forecast to form along and ahead of a very slow-moving cold front as it crosses the central Plains on Wednesday. Rainfall totals over 3 inches are possible from northern Texas to southern Illinois. This amount of rain within a short time frame could lead to flooding concerns. Thus, WPC has issued a Slight Risk of Excessive Rainfall for Wednesday that highlights a large region from Indiana to Texas. Across the Four Corners Region and southern High Plains, critical fire weather remains a concern through Tuesday as gusty winds and low relative humidity is found across the area ahead of the approaching storm system. Temperatures will also be quite warm ahead of the cold front throughout the central and eastern United States. High temperatures will soar into the 80s on Tuesday and Wednesday as far north as the Midwest, Lower Great Lakes, and Mid-Atlantic. Meanwhile, below average temperatures will remain across the Southwest and Great Basin on Tuesday before shifting into the central and southern Rockies on Wednesday. Snell Graphics available at www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/basicwx/basicwx_ndfd.php