Short Range Forecast Discussion NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD 341 AM EDT Mon May 03 2021 Valid 12Z Mon May 03 2021 - 12Z Wed May 05 2021 ...A spring cold front is set to bring multiple rounds of heavy rain and severe thunderstorms today and Tuesday across a large area that stretches from the Southern Plains and Mid-South to the Southeast... ...Heavy snow in the Central Rockies to diminish by tonight... Much of the attention to start the workweek will be associated with a cold front marching across the central U.S. today and into the East by Wednesday. As this frontal boundary swings east-southeast, ample moisture ahead of the system will lead to developing showers and thunderstorms. Starting with today, the best chances for severe thunderstorms exist throughout the Mid-South from southern Indiana to southeast Oklahoma. Showers and thunderstorms are expected to form this evening and could producing damaging wind gusts, large hail, and isolated tornadoes. The Storm Prediction Center has issued an Enhanced Risk of severe weather (level 3 out of 5) across the region. Elsewhere, a warm and humid airmass in place could pose a risk for a few isolated severe thunderstorms across the Southeast. Damaging wind gusts and hail will be a concern from Alabama northeastward into Georgia and parts of the Carolinas through early this evening. Downpours associated with the widespread shower and thunderstorm activity may cause isolated instances of flash flooding as well. By Tuesday, the aforementioned cold front is forecast to enter the Ohio and Middle/Lower Mississippi valleys. As it does so, another round of thunderstorms should develop and impact areas from the Deep South to Ohio Valley. Strong wind gusts will be the primary concern associated with the thunderstorm activity, with large hail and isolated tornadoes also a possibility. SPC has issued an Enhanced Risk of severe weather for Tuesday that includes central/eastern Louisiana, Mississippi, northern/central Alabama, south-central Tennessee, and far northwest Georgia. Along with the severe thunderstorm threat, flash flooding will also be a concern for the same region. The combination of heavy rain and previously saturated soils could lead to rapid water rises in flood prone areas. A tale of two seasons will be found across the western half of the country. Heavy snow is ongoing across the Central Rockies today, while above normal temperatures and fire weather a concern in California. Winter Storm Warnings and Winter Weather Advisories are in effect across northern and central Colorado as up to a foot of snow could accumulate by tonight, with the heaviest amounts expected along and just east of the Continental Divide. Meanwhile, high temperatures 10 to 15 degrees above average will be found to start the first full week of May throughout the Golden State. The combination of warm temperatures, low relative humidity, expanding drought conditions, and gusty winds cold produce an elevated fire weather threat. Red Flag Warnings have been issued across Northern California to highlight the potential for wildfires to spread uncontrollably. Snell Graphics available at www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/basicwx/basicwx_ndfd.php