Short Range Forecast Discussion NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD 220 PM EDT Wed Apr 17 2024 Valid 00Z Thu Apr 18 2024 - 00Z Sat Apr 20 2024 ...Severe weather and isolated flash flooding for the Great Lakes/Ohio Valley this evening; threat shifts to the Ohio and middle Mississippi valleys and Southern Plains Thursday... ...Warm to hot temperatures across the southern U.S.; chillier weather spreading southeast from the northern Rockies/Plains... Showers and thunderstorms will continue to develop into the evening along and ahead of a cold front now advancing eastward across Lower Michigan and the Ohio Valley. Some of these storms may become strong to severe, producing damaging winds, large hail, and a few tornadoes. In addition to severe weather, locally heavy rainfall and isolated flash flooding are concerns as well. Later this evening, storms are forecast to develop from the central Plains into the lower Missouri Valley. These storms too may become strong to severe, with damaging hail expected to be the primary threat. As the system in Plains moves further east, storms are likely to redevelop from the Ohio Valley into the southern Plains on Thursday. Severe weather will once again become a concern, especially across portions of the mid Mississippi into the lower Ohio valleys. The Storm Prediction Center has issued an Enhanced Risk (level 3/5) for portions of the region, noting that strong to severe storms capable of damaging winds, and possibly a few tornadoes, are likely tomorrow. While widespread heavy rains are not expected, locally heavy accumulations resulting in isolated flash flooding are possible. Temperatures across the southern U.S. will remain warm through the period, with highs in the upper 80s and 90s common from the Southwest to the Southeast over the next couple of days. Much cooler temperatures now centered over the northern Rockies and Plains will spread southeastward, lowering temperatures across much of the Midwest and Ohio Valley by Friday. Pereira Graphics available at https://www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/basicwx/basicwx_ndfd.php