Short Range Forecast Discussion
NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD
318 AM EST Thu Mar 03 2022

Valid 12Z Thu Mar 03 2022 - 12Z Sat Mar 05 2022

...A dynamic system will produce snow and freezing rain over parts of the
Northern/Central Plains and Upper Midwest this weekend...

...Above normal temperatures continue from the Great Basin to the
Southeast, with fire weather conditions worsening in the High Plains...

...Cooler temperatures, lower elevation rain, and mountain snow move into
California, the Southwest, and Great Basin tonight...

Temperatures will be below average across the northern tier states today,
on the backside of a cold front and approaching area of high pressure.
Highs will be in the teens and 20s for parts of the Northern Plains and
interior Northeast. A low pressure system, that recently generated
localized heavy rainfall over portions of the Pacific Northwest, will move
south and east over the coming days. This system will spread low elevation
rain and mountain snow across portions of California, the Great Basin and
the Rockies. The Sierra may accumulate between 1-2 feet by Saturday
morning. A cool Pacific airmass will move ashore across the West Coast on
Friday and spread across the region through the rest of the weekend. Snow
will pickup intensity across the Rockies on Saturday before the associated
surface wave deepens and spreads into the Front Range, Northern Plains and
Upper Midwest. Snow will remain modest for the Plains and Upper Midwest,
with totals likely to range between 3-6 inches on Saturday. Parts of
northern Wisconsin and Michigan's Upper Peninsula may experience moderate
to significant freezing rain during this period so weekend travel is
likely to be impacted.

Warm temperatures will be in place across much of the lower 48 today. High
temperatures will be 20-30 degrees above average for parts of the Front
Range and Central Southern Plains. Elevated to Critical fire weather is a
concern for parts of the Southern/Central Plains on Friday and Saturday
due to strong winds, low relative humidity and warm temperatures caused by
an approaching upper-level low and its associated surface wave. A cold
front associated with winter weather in the Northern Plains may also
produce heavy rain and severe weather over parts of the Mississippi Valley
beginning Saturday afternoon/evening.

Kebede


Graphics are available at
https://www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/basicwx/basicwx_ndfd.php