Short Range Forecast Discussion NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD 357 PM EDT Wed Apr 01 2020 Valid 00Z Thu Apr 02 2020 - 00Z Sat Apr 04 2020 ...Heavy snow, freezing rain, and cold temperatures will spread eastward across the north-central U.S. through Friday... ...Rain and scattered thunderstorms expected for the Southern/Central Plains and Mississippi Valley... ...Wet and windy weather will persist over the Northeast due to a large low pressure system in the Atlantic... Over the next couple of days, a strong cold front is expected to move slowly eastward across the Northern Plains and into the Upper Midwest, and southeastward across the Central/Southern Rockies and Central/Southern Plains. Behind this front, temperatures are forecast to fall much below average across the Northern Rockies to Northern/Central Plains. These cold conditions will support snow in these areas. Snowfall amounts of 6 to 12 inches are forecast for parts of Wyoming and South Dakota into northeastern North Dakota and northwestern Minnesota. As the cold front passes, rain could change to sleet or freezing rain before transitioning to snow. Freezing rain accumulations of over a tenth of an inch are expected in eastern portions of the Dakotas and western Minnesota. Along and ahead of the cold front, and ahead of a dryline in the Southern High Plains, rain and scattered thunderstorms are expected for portions of the Plains and Mississippi Valley. Rainfall totals will generally be light, but amounts over an inch are possible through Friday for central Texas. Behind the dryline, elevated to critical fire weather conditions are forecast by the Storm Prediction Center for the Southern High Plains. Warmer than average temperatures are likely ahead of the cold front. A deep surface low pressure system is forecast to meander over the western Atlantic over the next couple of days. Though far offshore, the enormity of the low will mean the Northeast will remain under the influence of the low; through Friday, rain and even some light wet snow in higher elevations are possible for the Northeast. Windy conditions along with high surf, beach erosion, and coastal flooding are possible. Tate Graphics available at www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/basicwx/basicwx_ndfd.php