Short Range Forecast Discussion NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD 258 AM EST Sun Nov 11 2018 Valid 12Z Sun Nov 11 2018 - 12Z Tue Nov 13 2018 ...Extremely critical fire weather conditions continue in California... ...Snow expected for the Rockies and spreading into the Southern and Central Plains on Sunday... ...Heavy rain possible for Texas eastward into the southern Mid-Atlantic region... A strong pressure gradient at the surface will continue to create strong winds across California, and dry ground and dry relative humidities will all combine to prolong dangerous fire weather across California. The Storm Prediction Center has Extremely Critical conditions indicated for parts of Southern California, with Critical conditions across parts of Northern California. Widespread Red Flag Warnings are in effect. An upper-level trough is expected to drop south and east through the Four Corners region, and a cold front will push southward through the Southwest and Southern Plains on Sunday, leading to a snow event in the Central and Southern Rockies and Plains. The highest totals of 10 to 15 inches are expected in the higher elevations of the Rockies, but snow is possible to the east in parts of the Plains as well. Snow amounts above 6 inches are possible across parts of the Texas Panhandle, but the placement of the heaviest snow is uncertain, so stay attuned to the latest forecasts. High temperatures across the Central and Southern Rockies and Plains will be 20 to 30 degrees below normal, with the Plains into Mississippi Valley expecting highs 15 to 25 degrees below normal by Monday. On Sunday night and Monday as a cold front pushes eastward, light snow is expected to spread across parts of the Middle Mississippi and Ohio Valleys. Farther east and south, moisture will stream in ahead of the aforementioned trough, and a surface low pressure system is forecast to develop and strengthen along the western Gulf Coast. These features will lead to potentially heavy rain in eastern Texas and the Lower Mississippi Valley on Sunday, with 1-2 inches of rain forecast. The surface low will move more quickly eastward along the Gulf Coast on Monday, and a cold front and low will form along the Eastern Seaboard on Monday night, which is expected to enhance rain chances in the Southeast and Southern Mid-Atlantic. Slight Risks of excessive rainfall/flash flooding are in place for these areas, as widespread rain totals over 2 inches are likely. Additionally, a few strong thunderstorms are possible mainly along the coasts, where the highest instability is. Elsewhere, the Northern Rockies and Northern High Plains are expecting more light snow of 1 to 4 inches due to a lingering frontal boundary. A low pressure system will move through the Upper Midwest, leading to 2 to 6 inches of snow across parts of Michigan through the beginning of the week. This low pressure system and the one forming along the Eastern Seaboard will contribute to snow formation in the Lower Great Lakes and into the interior Northeast by Sunday night. Tate Graphics available at www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/basicwx/basicwx_ndfd.php