Short Range Forecast Discussion NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD 300 PM EST Thu Mar 07 2019 Valid 00Z Fri Mar 08 2019 - 00Z Sun Mar 10 2019 ...A significant winter storm bringing heavy snow, strong winds and near blizzard-like conditions will be impacting the portions of the Northern Plains and Upper Midwest this weekend... ...Heavy rain and severe weather will become likely across portions of the Lower Mississippi Valley and the Gulf Coast states... ...Dry conditions and gusty winds will result in critical fire weather conditions across portions of the southern High Plains... The weather will be quite active across a large part of the nation for the end of the weekend and especially going into the weekend. The primary focus initially will be across the West as a couple of separate storm systems bring rather widespread rain and snow across portions of the Pacific Northwest, the Great basin and into the Rockies. Heavy accumulating snowfall is expected for the higher terrain including areas of the Cascades, the Sierra-Nevada, and the central Rockies going through Friday. By Friday night and Saturday, the attention will then begin to dramatically shift to the Plains and Mississippi Valley as a strong area of low pressure begins to develop out across the central Plains. This low center will deepen and then begin to lift northeast across the Upper Midwest by Saturday night. To the north and west of this low track, a swath of heavy snow will develop and overspread a large area of the Dakotas and areas east into the Upper Midwest including Minnesota. Strong winds are expected to develop with time around the back side of the low center, and this will likely result in near blizzard-like conditions across many of these areas going into the weekend. Significant travel disruptions are likely, and area roads are expected to become dangerous with considerable blowing and drifting of snow. Snowfall amounts through Saturday of as much as a foot with locally heavier amounts will be possible. Winter Storm Watches are currently in effect across many areas of the Northern Plains and Upper Midwest ahead of this expected winter storm. Farther south and east, the concern will become heavy rainfall and severe weather as a significant northward advance of warm, moist air occurs ahead of the ejecting low center, and out ahead of a strong cold front. Many areas of the middle to lower Mississippi Valley will see heavy rainfall, and perhaps at least some localized threat of flash flooding going through Saturday. However, there will be a bit stronger concern evolving for severe thunderstorms and especially from the Arklatex/Ozarks region east across the central and western Gulf Coast states and portions of the Tennessee Valley at least into Saturday evening. Thunderstorms will become capable of producing strong winds, large hail and also some tornadoes across these areas from Friday night through Saturday. Elsewhere, very dry air and locally gusty winds across the southern High Plains region will be driving a considerable concern for wildfires this evening through Friday, and at least until this weekend until colder air arrives behind the front sweeping across the Plains. Orrison Graphics available at www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/basicwx/basicwx_ndfd.php