Short Range Forecast Discussion NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD 344 PM EDT Tue May 02 2023 Valid 00Z Wed May 03 2023 - 00Z Fri May 05 2023 ...Much below average temperatures expected Wednesday across the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic... ...Moderate to heavy snow in the West Virginia Appalachians will continue into Wednesday... ...Much above average temperatures in the Northwest will cause snowmelt and flooding concerns this week... ...Scattered severe thunderstorms possible in the Southern Plains Thursday... A broad area of low pressure churning over the eastern Great Lakes region has kept the northeastern quarter of the country cool and damp today. High temperatures were about 15-25 degrees below average for the Great Lakes region and parts of the northern and central Appalachians. Much below average temperatures are expected to shift east on Wednesday into the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast where highs are forecast to be in the 40s and 50s. Showers are ongoing across the Great Lakes, Mid-Atlantic, and Northeast and will continue through Wednesday into Thursday. Mixed precipitation and snow showers will be possible in the higher elevations, especially in the West Virginia Appalachians where moderate to heavy snow is expected through Wednesday morning. Winter Storm Warnings and Winter Weather Advisories are in effect for parts of West Virginia and Garrett County, Maryland. In contrast to the cool conditions in the east, the Northwestern U.S. is experiencing much above normal temperatures. High temperatures were in the 70s and 80s today, which is about 15-25 degrees above average. Highs will remain much above average through Thursday and cause snow in the higher elevations to melt during the day. Snowmelt could lead to flooding concerns along rivers and streams in the Intermountain West from the U.S./Canada border south through Utah and northwestern Colorado. Flood Watches and Flood Advisories are in effect for areas where flooding is most likely this week. A frontal system will approach the region from the northwest Thursday into Friday, which will increase precipitation and decrease temperatures across the region. In the southern Plains, a stationary front will remain draped across the area through Thursday then lift northeast as a warm front Thursday night into Friday. Conditions across the region will be favorable for thunderstorms each day, and scattered severe storms will be possible on Thursday afternoon and evening in parts of Texas and Oklahoma where the Storm Prediction center has issued a Slight Risk of severe thunderstorms (level 2/5). Severe storms will be capable of producing large hail, damaging winds, and a couple tornadoes. Elsewhere, conditions are relatively mild. High pressure is forecast to build over the Mid-South and Southeast through Thursday, which will keep conditions dry. Most of the Southwest region will remain dry through the week as well, except for California. A low pressure center is forecast to slowly drift south along the California coast through the week, causing showers and thunderstorms in coastal and valley areas and mixed precipitation in higher elevations. Dolan Graphics available at https://www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/basicwx/basicwx_ndfd.php