Short Range Forecast Discussion NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD 258 AM EST Wed Feb 22 2017 Valid 12Z Wed Feb 22 2017 - 12Z Fri Feb 24 2017 ...Many daily temperature records may be broken from the Great Plains into the Ohio Valley and Mid-Atlantic region due to anomalous warmth... ...Heavy snow is possible across the Wasatch and into the Central Rockies... ...Increasingly wet conditions likely for the state of Florida... A robust upper-level low and associated surface frontal system, tracking across the eastern Gulf of Mexico and southern Florida, will keep showers and thunderstorms in the forecast for portions of the Southeast through Thursday. Much of the state of Florida could see accumulations around 1 inch-- isolated higher amounts will be possible. Over the next few days a broad upper-level trough will be in place over the West which will keep a cooler, more moist airmass over the region. A cold front exiting out of the Rockies and into the High Plains and Upper Midwest today will continue on its way through the central U.S. By Thursday the sprawling boundary will span from the Desert Southwest to the Great Lakes/Northeast. Widespread precipitation is forecast from the continental divide eastward to the Great Lakes/Ohio valley through early Saturday morning. The better chance for snowfall accumulations will be from the Wasatch eastward into the Central Rockies where amounts of up to 12 to 18 inches are possible in the highest elevations. Amounts in the adjacent High Plains are forecast to be 4 to 8 inches. Winter Storm Watches are in effect from Wyoming to Wisconsin. Winter Weather Advisories are in effect for portions of Utah, Idaho and Montana. Additionally, strong gusty winds will accompany this system as it crosses into the Plains. The influx of drier air will increase the threat for wildfires. Red flag warnings are in effect for eastern New Mexico and Colorado. Currently the Southern/Central High Plains are at a critical risk for such activity based on the latest Storm Prediction Center fire weather outlook. Mild temperatures are forecast to continue through the end of week. Forecast temperatures from the center of the country eastward into the Upper Great Lakes/Middle Mississippi Valley are approximately 20 to 30 degrees above average. Consequently, many daily temperature records may be reached or exceeded across the region. Campbell Graphics available at www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/basicwx/basicwx_ndfd.php