Short Range Forecast Discussion NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD 259 AM EST Thu Nov 08 2018 Valid 12Z Thu Nov 08 2018 - 12Z Sat Nov 10 2018 ...Snow in the Central Plains on Thursday, moving into the Great Lakes region by Friday... ...Much below temperatures forecast to continue for the Plains... ...Fire weather a major concern for California with Critical and Extremely Critical areas outlooked for Thursday... ...Rain and thunderstorms will persist in the Southern Plains to Southeast... On Thursday, snow is forecast for the Central Plains as an upper-level disturbance moves across. 2 to 5 inches of snow, with locally higher amounts, is expected for parts of Kansas, Nebraska, and Missouri. Upper-level disturbances will combine and strengthen over the next couple of days, and a couple of surface lows will develop and strengthen too--one in the Upper Great Lakes, and one moving along the Eastern Seaboard. This will lead to snow spreading to the Upper Midwest and Upper Great Lakes region on Thursday night, with mixed rain and snow possible in the Lower Great Lakes region by Friday. Heavy snow of 6 to 10 inches is forecast for parts of the Upper Great Lakes region, with 4 to 8 inches downwind of the Great Lakes on Friday and Friday night. Farther south, the precipitation is expected to stay rain in Tennessee Valley, Southern Appalachians, Mid-Atlantic, and the coastal Northeast on Friday. Very cold temperatures are forecast to continue in the Northern and Central Plains. As another cold front moves through on Friday, temperatures 15 to 30 degrees below normal are expected. This will lead to high temperatures below freezing for South Dakota and Nebraska, with highs in the teens in North Dakota. A number of low maximum temperatures could be set, especially in the Central Plains. The combination of ongoing drought, high winds, and very low relative humidity will lead to dangerous conditions for fire weather in parts of California. The Storm Prediction Center has indicated that Extremely Critical conditions are forecast today for Southern California, as strong Santa Ana winds ramp up. Critical fire weather conditions are expected in Northern California. Widespread Red Flag Warnings are also in effect. As a slow-moving front lingers near the Gulf Coast, areas from the Southern Plains to the Southeast will continue to see scattered showers and thunderstorms through Friday. Marginal Risks of both severe weather and flash flooding are in place for parts of these areas. The front will begin to move more quickly offshore by Friday evening as a high pressure system drops south, lowering rain chances for the weekend and cooling down temperatures for the Southern Plains as well. Tate Graphics available at www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/basicwx/basicwx_ndfd.php