Atmospheric Rivers

Short Range Forecast Discussion
NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD
Sun Apr 14 2024
Valid 12Z Sun Apr 14 2024 – 12Z Tue Apr 16 2024

…Severe thunderstorms possible over interior portions of the Northeast
on Sunday…

…Lingering locally heavy showers and moderate to heavy snow in
California Sunday…

…Intensifying storm system over the Plains to bring the threat of severe
weather Monday…

…Well above average temperatures across the central/eastern U.S;
Critical Risk of Fire Weather for the central/southern High Plains
Monday….

An upper-level shortwave/surface frontal system dropping southeast through
the Great Lakes into the Upper Ohio Valley/Interior Northeast Sunday will
bring a renewed chance for showers and thunderstorms. Strong wind fields
overlapping a southward moving cold front from central Ohio east into
Pennsylvania will lead to some supercell structures and potentially a
developing line of more intense thunderstorms. The Storm Prediction Center
has issued an Enhanced Risk of Severe Weather (level 3/5) for the threat
of some damaging wind gusts with these storms, along with a few instances
of large hail and perhaps a tornado or two. Some locally heavy downpours
will also be possible, and wet antecedent conditions through the terrain
of the Appalachians could lead to an isolated risk of some flash flooding
across this region as well. Storm chances should quickly diminish
overnight Monday as the frontal system pushes southeastward off the East
Coast.

A deep upper-level low and associated surface frontal system over the West
will continue to progress eastward during the day Sunday. A few areas of
heightened precipitation will continue under the influence of the low,
particularly for portions of southern Oregon/northern California and
southern California. Moderate to locally heavy lower elevation
coastal/valley rain showers, including some thunderstorms, are expected.
Moist onshore/upslope flow along the Transverse Ranges of southern
California may lead to a couple inches of rain on top of wet antecedent
soils from Saturday’s rainfall, with an isolated threat for flooding.
Higher elevation mountain snow will also continue in California, with a
few more inches of accumulations forecast for the Sierra Nevada.
Precipiation chances will spread further inland with the system with some
lower elevation valley rain and higher elevation snow possible for the
northern Rockies and central Great Basin Sunday evening, continuing into
Monday for the Great Basin and spreading into the central Rockies. Some
moderate snow accumulations will be possible for the higher mountain
elevations here as well.

As the system spreads into the Plains, lee cyclogenesis will help to
deepen the surface low pressure system, with intensifying moist southerly
flow from the Gulf leading to widespread shower and thunderstorm
development by Monday evening. This will be most likely for upslope
portions of the northern/central High Plains northwest of the low, along
the arcing cold front south across the central/southern Plains, and
eastward along a warm front into the Middle Mississippi Valley. Strong
buoyancy and strengthening low to upper-level flow will lead to the threat
of severe thunderstorms. The Storm Prediction Center has outlined a broad
Slight Risk of Severe Weather (level 2/5) across the central/Southern
Plains for the threat of large hail, damaging winds, and a few tornadoes.
An Enhanced Risk (level 3/5) has been included over western
Oklahoma/northwest Texas where a locally higher risk for very large hail
exists. While storms will tend to be rather progressive, especially with
southern extent along the cold front, the influx of higher moisture may be
enough for some locally heavier downpours and an attendant isolated risk
for flash flooding. The storms will continue to progress eastward into the
Midwest and Mississippi Valley overnight Monday and into the day Tuesday,
just beyond the current forecast period.

A broad area of well above average temperatures will continue across the
central/eastern U.S. Sunday and Monday as ridging leads the approaching
system over the West. Highs from the central/southern Plains through the
Mississippi Valley and into the Mid-Atlantic/Southeast will be into the
80s. Some 90s will even be possible Sunday over the central/southern High
Plains. Unfortunately, strengthening winds with the intensifying system
over the Plains on top of dry conditions behind a surface dryline through
the central/southern Plains has prompted a Critical Risk of Fire Weather
(level 2/3) from the Storm Prediction Center for portions of the
central/southern High Plains Monday. Conditions will also be warm along
the northern tier as well, with 60s and 70s from the Northern Plains to
the Great Lakes. Cooler temperatures will prevail over most of the West
under the influence of the upper-low and following cold frontal passage,
with 50s and 60s over California Sunday spreading further into the Great
Basin Monday. Highs in the Desert Southwest will generally be in the 70s.
Warmer temperatures will arc northwest into the Pacific Northwest/Northern
Rockies Sunday, with highs in the 60s and 70s, though cooler temperatures
will also follow here Monday.

Short Range Forecast Discussion
NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD
Sat Apr 13 2024
Valid 12Z Sat Apr 13 2024 – 12Z Mon Apr 15 2024

…Heavy lower elevation rain, mountain snow, and gusty winds forecast for
California…

…Shower and thunderstorm chances from the Great Lakes into the Northeast
this weekend, with a threat for some severe weather in the Upper Ohio
Valley/central Appalachians Sunday…

…Well above average temperatures across the Interior West/central U.S.
Saturday expand to the East Coast Sunday…

A deep upper-level closed low and associated surface frontal system
approaching the California coast this morning will be the dominant driver
of hazardous weather for the country for at least the next several days.
Pacific moisture flowing inland will bring moderate to locally heavy lower
elevation coastal/valley rain showers and thunderstorms to portions of the
Pacific Northwest and California Saturday. The heaviest rain totals are
expected where the moist flow intersects favorable upslope regions along
the central Coastal Ranges into the Transverse Ranges and northern/central
Sierra, and some isolated instances of flooding could occur. Rainfall
amounts overall should come down into the day Sunday as the system moves
further inland and the influx of moisture from the ocean decreases.
However, some locally heavy amounts are once again possible, particularly
for the Transverse Ranges where wet antecedent conditions from the prior
days rainfall will bring another risk of some isolated flooding. In
addition to rainfall, higher elevations in the northern Coastal Ranges,
Klamath Mountains, and Sierra Nevada will see some moderate snowfall
accumulations, with Winter Weather Advisories in place. Much cooler air
settling in following the passage of the cold front and with the deep
upper-low overhead will even lead to some snow for higher elevations in
the mountains around greater Los Angeles. Some light to moderate lower
elevation rain showers and higher elevation snow will also spread into the
Great Basin Saturday and northern Great Basin/Rockies Sunday. Otherwise,
conditions in vicinity of the system will be rather dry as it pushes
through the Rockies and into the Plains by Monday morning, with a renewed
threat for more widespread showers and thunderstorms, including some
severe weather, later Monday just beyond the current forecast period.
Winds will also be rather gusty as the system passes through the West.

Some lingering areas of light to moderate showers continue this morning
across portions of the Great Lakes/Interior Northeast, rotating around a
deep cyclone located in southeastern Canada. Some higher elevations of the
Appalachians may see some snow mix in. Gusty winds will remain in place as
well. Shower chances should taper off into the day as the cyclone moves
away from the U.S. However, a clipper-like system dropping southeast from
Canada will bring a renewed chance of moderate showers and thunderstorms
Sunday to the Interior Northeast, Lower Great Lakes, Upper Ohio Valley,
and central/northern Appalachians. A strengthening upper-level wind field
will overlap enough surface moisture/buoyancy to lead to the threat of
some severe thunderstorms, with a Slight Risk (level 2/5) from the Storm
Prediction Center from eastern Ohio into central Pennsylvania. Damaging
winds will be the main threat, though some large hail and a tornado or two
will be possible as well.

A broad area of high temperatures 10-20 degrees above average will expand
from the Interior West/Plains into the eastern U.S. this weekend as an
upper-level trough departs the East Coast. Some of the greatest anomalies
will be over portions of the northern/central Plains on Saturday, where
highs into the 80s are upwards of 20-30 degrees above average. A few near
record-tying/breaking highs will be possible Sunday across parts of the
central/southern Plains into the Middle Mississippi Valley as highs reach
into the mid-80s to low 90s. The combination of warmer temperatures as
well as dry antecedent conditions and gusty winds have prompted an
Elevated Risk of Fire Weather (level 1/3) from the Storm Prediction Center
for portions of the central/southern High Plains Saturday and Sunday. In
contrast, highs will be cool and well below average in California
Saturday, spreading into portions of the central Great Basin and Desert
Southwest Sunday, as the Pacific system pushes inland.

Short Range Forecast Discussion
NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD
356 AM EDT Fri Apr 12 2024

Valid 12Z Fri Apr 12 2024 – 12Z Sun Apr 14 2024

…Powerful low pressure system to produce gusty winds and heavy rain
across parts of the Great Lakes, Ohio Valley, and Northeast through
Friday…

…Lower elevation rain and mountain snow to enter California on
Saturday…

…Well above average temperatures forecast to surge into the
northern/central Plains this weekend…

A broad area of showers and thunderstorms across the Midwest and into the
Northeast will continue Friday as a deep cyclone over the Great Lakes
slowly shifts into Canada. Showers should taper off from west to east
across the Great Lakes/Ohio Valley as the low departs, with more moderate
to heavy rainfall most likely along the Appalachians into the Lower Great
Lakes. The heaviest rainfall is expected ahead of a trailing cold front
through New England where an influx of moist southeasterly flow off the
Atlantic along upslope portions of the northern Appalachians contributes
to some more potent storms and rain totals. A Slight Risk of Excessive
Rainfall (level 2/4) has been issued for portions of New Hampshire and
Maine along and ahead of the White Mountains where the combination of
heavy rain and snowmelt could lead to some instances of flooding. Some
lighter lingering showers will last into Saturday, particularly for
interior portions of the Northeast. Conditions will also remain breezy
across the region with Wind Advisories in place for portions of the Great
Lakes, Appalachians, and New England.

In the West, some light lower elevation rain showers and higher
elevation/mountain snow showers will be possible along a frontal system
pushing southward through portions of the northern Great Basin and Pacific
Northwest Friday. An approaching Pacific system will bring higher
precipitation chances spreading southward into California later Friday and
into the day Saturday. Some moderate to locally heavy showers will be
possible along the coast, with accumulating snowfall expected for the
Northern Coastal Ranges, Klamath Mountains, and Sierra Nevada. A Winter
Weather Advisory has been issued for southern portions of the Sierra where
6-12 inches of snow is forecast. Gusty winds are expected here as well,
especially along the area mountain ranges.

Cooler, below average temperatures will spread eastward from the Lower
Great Lakes/Ohio Valley/Tennessee Valley Friday into the
Northeast/Mid-Atlantic Saturday following recent cold front passage. Highs
will tend to be at or just below average further south into the Southeast
and Florida. A broad area of much above average temperatures across the
West/Plains Friday will expand into the Mississippi Valley Saturday as
upper-level ridging shifts eastward over the central U.S. The greatest
anomalies will reside over the northern and central Plains Saturday, where
highs into the 80s are upwards of 20-25 degrees above normal. Much cooler
temperatures will arrive in California Saturday as the Pacific system
begins to move inland.

Short Range Forecast Discussion
NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD
Thu Apr 11 2024
Valid 12Z Thu Apr 11 2024 – 12Z Sat Apr 13 2024

…Powerful storm system to foster high wind potential over much of the
eastern U.S. today with severe weather, heavy rain and flash flood threats
for parts of the Southeast, upper Ohio Valley and into the northern
Mid-Atlantic…

…High wind threat continues across the Great Lakes, Northeast, and into
the Appalachians on Friday into early Saturday as flash flood threat will
be confined to northern New England…

An intensifying low pressure system centered over the Mid-South early this
morning is forecast to track northeast toward the Great Lakes through
tonight. This system will progressively engulf the entire eastern U.S.
today with widespread moderate rainfall and a couple axes of heavy rain.
The heaviest rains will be associated with clusters of strong to severe
thunderstorms across the Southeast ahead of a potent cold front where a
few inches of rain can be expected. Another area of heavy rain will be
near and along the track of the intense low pressure system center, from
the Mid-Mississippi Valley across the Ohio Valley toward the lower Great
Lakes where 2 inches of rain can be expected. The intensity and size of
the system will bring the threat of high winds into much of the eastern
U.S. including the Great Lakes, Midwest and the Ohio Valley through the
next couple of days. The southern portion of the potent cold front is
forecast to move off the Southeast U.S. this evening, bringing the heavy
rain and thunderstorms out into the Atlantic. The front will take extra
time to pass through Florida, where a line of strong to severe
thunderstorms is forecast to pass through the peninsula today into tonight.
Meanwhile, warm and moist air from the Atlantic will surge up the Eastern
Seaboard tonight with widespread moderate to locally heavy rain under very
strong and gusty south-southeasterly winds.

Friday will likely see the moderate to heavy rain and high winds impacting
the Great Lakes and the entire Northeast as the Mid-Atlantic clears out
from the rain. The center of the low pressure system should begin exiting
the Great Lakes into southern Canada early on Friday. However, the size
and intensity of the storm will keep the high winds and heavy rain threat
into Saturday morning from the lower Great Lakes to the Northeast with
flash flooding threat to be confined across northern New England.

Outside of the big storm in the eastern U.S., the weather will be
relatively quiet across the Southwest and through the mid-section of the
country under the influence of a high pressure system. The West Coast
will see somewhat more active weather dropping in from north to south
through the next couple of days as a compact but energetic upper low that
originated from the Arctic Ocean dips south and approaches California by
Saturday morning. Mainly light to locally moderate precipitation can be
expected to reach coastal Pacific Northwest today, reaching into northern
California on Friday before sliding south into central California by
Saturday morning. Some of the precipitation will spill into the interior
section of the Northeast by Friday and continue into Saturday morning.

Short Range Forecast Discussion
NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD
400 AM EDT Wed Apr 10 2024

Valid 12Z Wed Apr 10 2024 – 12Z Fri Apr 12 2024

…Heavy rain, flash flooding and severe weather threat associated with an
intensifying low pressure system will sweep across the Arklatex region
today, reaching into the interior South tonight…

…The low pressure system will bring an expanding heavy rain and high
wind threat into much of the eastern U.S. on Thursday with severe weather
threat across the Southeast and upper Ohio Valley…

…High winds along with widespread moderate to heavy rain expected to
impact the entire Eastern Seaboard into the Great Lakes Thursday night
into Friday morning…

A low pressure system is currently consolidating over southern Texas as a
dynamic upper-level trough is getting ready to move off northern Mexico
and then vigorously interact with moisture returning from the Gulf of
Mexico. The clusters of strong to severe thunderstorms that have already
formed and impacted the western Gulf states are just a precursor of what
the system may produce later today when it is forecast to intensify
rapidly with thunderstorms erupting over the Arklatex region. These
thunderstorms are expected to contain very heavy rain, hail, high winds,
and the possibility of tornadoes across the interior South through tonight
as a potent cold front is forecast to sweep across from west to east. The
low pressure system itself is forecast to intensify, expand and track
toward the northeast for the next couple of days, with moderate to heavy
rainfall engulfing much of the eastern U.S. by Thursday. The heaviest
rainfall is expected to impact the central to eastern Gulf coast region
today through Thursday morning, with another heavy rain axis from the
Arklatex region to the Midwest following the center of the intensifying
low pressure system. The low pressure system is forecast to intensify and
expand further Thursday night into Friday morning, bringing high winds
into much of the eastern U.S. as well as the Great Lakes, Midwest and the
Ohio Valley. Thunderstorms should exit the Southeast by Friday morning as
the cold front moves off the coast. However, the Mid-Atlantic and
virtually the entire Northeast will likely be engulfed by moderate to
heavy rain along with high winds especially just ahead of the potent cold
front trailing south from the center of the intense and expanding low
pressure system.

Outside of the intensifying low pressure system, relatively quiet weather
is expected for the next couple of days with a stable upper ridging
building into the western U.S. Scattered rain and snow showers are
expected to fall across the northern Rockies and northern High Plains
today before reaching into the northern Plains as a clipper system swings
across these areas. Light precipitation is forecast to reach the Pacific
Northwest Thursday night with the arrival of the next Pacific system.
Otherwise, improvement in the fire weather threat is expected across the
southern High Plains where elevated fire danger is confined to the Texas
Big Bend today, followed by portions of the central Plains on Thursday.

Short Range Forecast Discussion
NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD
Tue Apr 09 2024
Valid 12Z Tue Apr 09 2024 – 12Z Thu Apr 11 2024

…Heavy rain, flash flooding and severe weather threat will expand across
the Southern Plains into the lower Mississippi Valley through Wednesday,
reaching into Midwest, Ohio/Tennessee Valleys and the Southeast by
Thursday morning…

…Critical fire danger shifts into Texas Big Bend and Rio Grande Valley…

Following the 2024 Great American Eclipse, a developing low pressure
system over the southern Plains will become the main weather story for the
next couple of days. A vigorous upper-level trough exiting the southern
Rockies/ northern Mexico will continue to interact with moisture returning
from the Gulf of Mexico to deliver sprawling areas of heavy rain and
embedded severe thunderstorms first across eastern Texas into the Arklatex
region today, before expanding into the Texas Panhandle tonight. The
dynamic interaction will then consolidate and intensify a low pressure
system gradually over eastern Texas tonight, before taking the system more
rapidly northeastward across the Arklatex region on Wednesday. It appears
that a potent cold front trailing south from the low center will be the
focus for strong to severe thunderstorms across eastern Texas Wednesday
morning, through the lower Mississippi Valley on Wednesday, before
reaching into the eastern Gulf states and the Florida Panhandle by early
on Thursday. Less of a severe weather threat is forecast for areas north
of the low pressure center track. Meanwhile, heavy rain could lead to
flooding concerns from the Texas Panhandle tonight, with the highest
threat across the Mid-South through Wednesday, before spreading into the
Midwest and lower Great Lakes early on Thursday. Winds will become
increasingly strong and gusty as the low pressure system becomes quite
strong by Thursday morning.

Outside of the intensifying low pressure system, relatively quiet weather
is expected for the next couple of days. The cloud cover and areas of rain
across the northern Plains into the upper Great Lakes are forecast to
taper off tonight as an old cyclone continues to fill and departs into
southern Canada. Scattered showers will then reach into the lower Great
Lakes Tuesday night, and continue to spread into New England Wednesday
night. The Pacific Northwest will see the arrival of a frontal zone with
some moisture and high elevation light snows into the northern Cascades
and eventually Rockies Tuesday before drying out on Wednesday. A warming
trend is in store for the West and East Coast, as well as the northern
tier states while cooler than normal temperatures will linger across the
South behind the intensifying low pressure system.

Short Range Forecast Discussion
NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD
Mon Apr 08 2024
Valid 12Z Mon Apr 08 2024 – 12Z Wed Apr 10 2024

…Northern New England remains the best location for clear viewing of the
total solar eclipse this afternoon…

…Lingering wet snow across the Northern Plains expected to taper off
later today while locally moderate rain moves across the Upper Midwest…

…Heavy rain, flash flooding and severe weather threat emerging across
the Southern Plains to the lower Mississippi Valley on Tuesday…

…Critical fire danger shifts southward into western Texas by Tuesday…

As the long-anticipated total solar eclipse scheduled to take place this
afternoon, the weather pattern across the U.S. is entering a transition
period from one that consists of a winter storm across the North to heavy
rain and severe thunderstorms across the South. The low pressure system
that has brought snow, high winds, and severe weather to various locations
across the northern and central U.S. will continue to weaken and track
northeast across the upper Midwest today, and then move into southern
Canada on Tuesday. Lingering wet snow across the Northern Plains is
expected to taper off later today while locally moderate rain moves across
the Upper Midwest.

Monday morning will feature showers and embedded thunderstorms across the
Great Lakes down into the Ohio Valley, Tennessee Valley and the lower
Mississippi Valley well in advance of the low pressure system and near the
trailing cold front. Meanwhile, moisture from the Gulf of Mexico is
beginning to return to the western Gulf states. Southern Texas will
likely wake up to fair conditions this morning but will likely followed by
a rapid untimely increase of clouds this morning into the afternoon prior
to the arrival of the solar eclipse. In contrast, northern New England
remains to be the region where cloud cover will likely be minimized along
the path of totality this afternoon as the nor’easter moves farther out
into the Atlantic. It appears that other locations in between will have a
fair chance of cloud covers at various levels, although locations across
the Midwest could see breaks in the clouds or high thin clouds during the
time of totality.

Monday night into Tuesday will likely see the threat of heavy rain
blossoming across the South from eastern Texas/eastern Oklahoma expanding
eastward into the lower Mississippi Valley in response to a potent upper
trough approaching from the southern Rockies that will interact with the
influx of Gulf moisture. A few inches of rain will likely be common from
northern Louisiana into southern Arkansas through Wednesday morning with
this setup. In addition, severe thunderstorms are also expected to
develop within the heavy rain area from Tuesday morning onward into
Wednesday morning when a low pressure system is forecast to develop over
Texas. The heaviest rains and severe storms should begin to head farther
east by Wednesday morning into the Mid-South as the low pressure system
intensifies and tracks toward the east-northeast.

Meanwhile, moisture from the next Pacific system is forecast to bring the
next round of precipitation into the Pacific Northwest by later today and
spread into the northern Rockies on Tuesday. Much of the Southwest into
the Four Corners will remain dry with some gusty winds as a dry cold front
passes through. As for fire weather, it appears that the area of Critical
Risk of Fire Weather will be confined to western Texas per the Storm
Prediction center.

Forecast high temperatures will tend to be at or above average and mild to
warm over much of the central/eastern U.S. today ahead of the system over
the Midwest/Plains. The greatest anomalies will be in the lower Great
Lakes vicinity, where temperatures into the 60s and 70s are upwards of
15-20 degrees above normal. The frontal boundary sagging southward and
increasing coverage of precipitation chances will bring cooler
temperatures from the Tennessee Valley west through the ArkLaTex and into
portions of the Southern Plains/Rockies Tuesday. Temperatures are forecast
to warm up by 10-15 degrees over the Northern Plains Tuesday following one
more chilly day on Monday. An expanding area of warm, above average
temperatures will spread inland from California into the Great Basin
Tuesday as an upper-level ridge builds in.

Short Range Forecast Discussion
NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD
Sun Apr 07 2024
Valid 12Z Sun Apr 07 2024 – 12Z Tue Apr 09 2024

…Wet snow and high winds across the northern High Plains today are
expected to gradually become less intense by tonight…

…Mixed rain and wet snow spread east across the northern Plains into
tonight as showers and thunderstorms move across the Midwest, Mid-South,
Great Lakes toward the central Appalachians Monday morning…

…Threat of heavy rain quickly emerges across the western Gulf states
later on Monday and then expands further into the Mid-South by Tuesday
morning…

…Critical to Extreme Fire Weather Risk continues over portions of the
central/southern High Plains today with improvements on Monday…

An intense low pressure system, likely reaching peak intensity early this
Sunday morning, has continued to impact much of the High Plains and nearby
Rockies with winds locally gusting over hurricane force. The cold air
mass behind this intense storm is supporting wet snow across the northern
High Plains into the northern Rockies. The combination of wet snow in the
midst of the high winds has resulted in blizzard conditions locally over
western Nebraska. Meanwhile, plenty of warm air is wrapping around the
eastern side of the storm with bands of showers and thunderstorms sweeping
through the northern and central Plains. The intense storm is expected to
gradually weaken today as it moves generally toward the upper Midwest.
Mixed rain and wet snow are expected across the northern Plains by tonight
as showers and embedded thunderstorms move into the Great Lakes and down
the Mississippi Valley by early on Monday. The rain/snow over the
northern Plains is expected to taper off by Monday night when the low
pressure system weakens further and heads toward southern Canada by
Tuesday morning.

Meanwhile, the huge circulation associated with the weakening nor’easter
has been slow to exit New England, with some wet snow and rain still
affecting Maine and the Cape Cod area early Sunday morning. The
precipitation is expected to taper off this morning as the huge storm
begins to move out into the Atlantic. Colder air wrapping around the huge
storm will lead to below freezing temperatures as far south as the
southern Appalachians early this morning before the April sun and the
arrival warm air from the intense storm over the Plains send temperatures
well up into the 60s to near 70 by this afternoon.

For the total solar eclipse that is scheduled to take place on Monday, it
appears that southern Texas will wake up to considerable clouds Monday
morning with a resurgence of warm and moist air from the Gulf of Mexico.
In contrast, New England will likely wake up to clearing skies with cold
temperatures into the 20s Monday morning under a fresh snow cover from the
recent nor’easter. There will probably be some breaks in the clouds from
northern Arkansas to central Ohio behind a front, and mostly cloudy
farther northeast from eastern Ohio to western portions of New York.

Beginning late on Monday into Tuesday, a threat of heavy rain will quickly
emerge across the western Gulf states and then expands further into the
Mid-South in response to a return of Gulf moisture which will then
interact with an upper trough arriving from the southern Rockies. In
contrast, very dry conditions combined with strong downslope winds from
the Rockies will keep fire danger at critical to locally extreme levels
across the central to southern High Plains with some improvements on
Monday. Meanwhile, moisture from the next Pacific system is forecast to
bring the next round of precipitation into the Pacific Northwest by later
on Monday into Tuesday.

Short Range Forecast Discussion
NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD
Sat Apr 06 2024
Valid 12Z Sat Apr 06 2024 – 12Z Mon Apr 08 2024

…Winter Storm to develop over the northern High Plains and nearby
foothills of the Rockies with high winds possible later today into
Sunday…

…Severe thunderstorms possible later today across the central Plains,
shifting toward the Mississippi Valley on Sunday…

…High winds will impact much of the High Plains today, reaching into the
Great Plains on Sunday…

…Critical Fire Weather Risk continues over Central/Southern High
Plains…

…Warm weekend ahead for Central U.S.; East and West Coasts remain below
average…

A low pressure system currently intensifying over the central High Plains
will be the focus of high winds, severe thunderstorms, and snow across the
mid-section of the country for the remainder of the weekend. The
highly-amplified upper trough that has ushered a fresh dose of cold air
into much of the western U.S. will continue to support mountain snow today
from the Great Basin to the Four Corners and up across the northern and
central Rockies. Meanwhile, the tight pressure gradient ahead of a potent
cold front will bring high winds across much of the central and southern
High Plains today. As the low pressure system intensifies further over
the central High Plains, the focus of the snow will gradually lift toward
the northern High Plains by tonight ahead of a nearly stationary front.
The snow is expected to become heavy from near the foothills of the
northern Rockies to the northern High Plains later today and into Sunday.
Anywhere between 6-12 inches of snow is possible with 1-2 feet more likely
at higher elevations (Big Horns, Shirley, Laramie Mountains). The winds
just behind the intense low pressure center will likely become very strong
and gusty, possibly resulting in blizzard conditions in these areas. The
strongest winds could occur near the foothills of northern Colorado where
winds could be damaging at times from Saturday night into early Sunday.
Farther south, the persistently dry downslope winds from the Rockies will
keep fire danger from critical to locally extreme levels across the
central to southern High Plains through the next couple of days.

On the warm side of the system, severe thunderstorms are possible ahead of
the intensifying low pressure system and the associated potent cold front
across the central Plains, mainly later today and into early on Sunday.
Sunday night should see the heavy snow and high winds to begin winding
down across the northern High Plains as the low pressure system weakens
and slowly moves farther to the east. Showers and thunderstorms are
expected to expand farther east into the upper Midwest and farther south
into the Mississippi Valley along the cold front.

Meanwhile, more snow showers are expected to continue today from the
central Appalachians up through the lower Great Lakes and interior
Northeast/New England as the circulation of a huge nor’easter will be slow
to exit into the Atlantic. An additional few inches of new snow with
locally up to 6 inches is possible across northern New England today
before sunshine returns on Sunday. High temperatures will remain below
average along the East Coast into Monday morning thanks to the cloudiness.
Meanhwile, a pronounced ridge will support warmer than average
temperatures across the Great Plains and Mississippi Valley this weekend.
In contrast, northern New England will wake up to temperatures in the 20s
Monday morning with clearing skies while southern Texas will be under
considerable cloudiness prior to the total solar eclipse.

Short Range Forecast Discussion
NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD
Fri Apr 05 2024
Valid 12Z Fri Apr 05 2024 – 12Z Sun Apr 07 2024

…Wet snow lingers over northern New England into Saturday…

…Widespread mountain snow moves across the interior western U.S…

…High Winds expected to impact the Four Corners today, spreading across
the Rockies and High Plains on Saturday, reaching into the central Plains
by Sunday…

…Severe thunderstorms possible over the central Plains later on Saturday
into early Sunday…

…Critical Fire Risk for central/southern High Plains through this
weekend…

The nor’easter that has been impacting New England with heavy snow inland
and strong winds near the coast will gradually weaken but will take its
time exiting into the Atlantic. Widespread wet snow mixed with rain over
the lower elevations can be expected to continue through today before
becoming more scattered on Saturday. 4-8 inches of new snow may still
accumulate as the parent low lingers nearby. The snow is expected to
taper off to snow showers by Sunday morning as the huge circulation of the
system finally moves farther away into the Atlantic.

Meanwhile, a rather dynamic upper trough along with the associated surface
low pressure system are pushing into the interior western U.S. This
system will bring widespread mountain snow across the Great Basin today,
followed by the northern and central Rockies on Saturday. The potent cold
front trailing south from the low pressure center will likely impact the
Four Corners states with high winds today into tonight as the front
approaches and forcefully passes through the region.
By Saturday, this system will consolidate and quickly intensify as it
emerges over the Front Range. High winds, warm weather and low dew points
will support a critical fire danger over parts of the central and southern
High Plains through at least Sunday. Winds could become especially strong
and potentially damaging near the foothills of the central Rockies
Saturday night into early Sunday right behind the intensifying low
pressure system. Wind-driven rain is forecast to quickly expand across
the central Plains Saturday night into early Sunday around the rapidly
intensifying system, with severe thunderstorms and locally heavy rain
possible just ahead of the low center.

With a huge omega upper-level blocking pattern setting up across the U.S.
through the weekend, below average temperatures are expected across the
West and East while above average temperatures will remain over the
central U.S.