Short Range Forecast Discussion NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD 352 PM EDT Thu Apr 19 2018 Valid 00Z Fri Apr 20 2018 - 00Z Sun Apr 22 2018 ...Well below normal temperatures expected across much of the Eastern U.S. on Friday and into the central states by Saturday... ...Dry and windy conditions will keep fire weather conditions at a critical to extreme level into the weekend... The same system which brought significant late season snow accumulations to portions of the upper Midwest on Wednesday has now pushed off the east coast, leaving expansive surface high pressure in it's wake. This will keep temperatures on the cooler side for mid-April standard with readings 10 to 20 degrees below normal across much of the Tennessee/Ohio Valleys and into parts of the Northeast. Freeze warnings and frost advisories are in effect overnight Thursday for some of these regions. A second frontal system pushing across the Four Corners region this afternoon will continue to allow for accumulating snow in the highest terrain of mainly the central Rockies. Ahead of the cold front, numerous showers and thunderstorms will develop across the southern and central Plains, with locally heavy rainfall possible on Saturday near the low center as it tracks southeastward towards northern Texas. This front will also usher in below normal temps to parts of the southern and central Plains with afternoon highs 10 to 20 degrees below normal possible by Saturday. Elsewhere, critical to extreme fire weather conditions are expected to continue across the Four Corners region and into parts of the southern Rockies and High Plains as low relative humidities and gusty winds persist on the backside of the frontal system crossing that region. Red flag warnings and high wind warnings are in effect across much of the region. And out west, rain and mountain snows return to portions of the Pacific Northwest by the weekend as a frontal system pushes onshore. Santorelli Graphics available at www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/basicwx/basicwx_ndfd.php