Short Range Forecast Discussion NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD 350 AM EDT Mon Apr 16 2018 Valid 12Z Mon Apr 16 2018 - 12Z Wed Apr 18 2018 ...Heavy rain and pockets of freezing rain possible today across the Northeast... ...Rain and higher elevation snow expected along the West Coast eastward into the northern and central Rockies... ...Another round of late season snow for parts of the Plains and Upper Mississippi Valley... ...Dangerous fire weather conditions expected on Tuesday across parts of the southern and central Plains... The system that brought severe weather and heavy rainfall from the southern Plains to the Mid-Atlantic will continue to move across the Northeast and New England today. Heavy rainfall will increase across the Northeast this morning as this system moves north. During the afternoon, the heavier rainfall amounts will extend into New England. In addition to the heavy rainfall, pockets of freezing rain will also be possible especially in the interior of New England. Most of the activity will by Tuesday afternoon; however, lingering showers and snow showers will be possible in the lower Great Lakes and interior of New England Tuesday evening into Wednesday morning. A closed upper level low will swing across the West Coast and move inland. At the surface, a front will continue to move across the Great Basin and Intermountain West today. Precipitation is expected from the Pacific Northwest to central California and eastward into the Rockies on Monday. Higher elevation snow is also expected today with snowfall occurring along the Cascades and the Sierra Nevada mountains in addition to the northern and central Rockies. By Tuesday, the upper level trough will shift eastward and consequently shifts the precipitation across the High Plains along with the northern and central Plains. However, some lingering showers and higher elevation snow will continue across the Cascades and northern/central Rockies. As the upper level trough ejects from the Rockies into the Plains, snow will develop in parts of the northern and central Plains and will increase in intensity as it moves into the Upper Mississippi Valley later on Wednesday. Temperatures will continue to be below average along both the East and West Coast on Monday and Tuesday. However, above average temperatures will occur from the Southwest to the northern High Plains on Monday and will shift to the southern and central Plains by Tuesday. With these above average temperatures in the Plains, relative humidity will be quite low and strong winds are expected. These ingredients will lead to extreme fire weather conditions which could be dangerous and life threatening. For more information on this, see the Storm Prediction Center. Reinhart Graphics available at www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/basicwx/basicwx_ndfd.php