Short Range Forecast Discussion NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD 401 AM EDT Sat Sep 26 2020 Valid 12Z Sat Sep 26 2020 - 12Z Mon Sep 28 2020 ...Temperature whiplash to transpire in the central and southern Plains; near record heat possible today and the return of autumn-like temperatures by Monday... ...Critical fire weather conditions on tap in the Northern Plains today; fire weather risk reaches critical levels in portions of California on Sunday... ...Heavy showers and storms possible in the upper Great Lakes today, the into the South Central U.S. on Sunday... The Nation's Heartland will witness quite the temperature swing over the next couple days as a cold front traverses the region. Today starts off on a hot note in the southern and central Plains as high temperatures soar into the 90s and even surpass the century mark in spots. Portions of the Midwest are also expected to deal with abnormally hot conditions as daily temperature anomalies range between 10-15 degrees above normal. While the southern tier of the Plains are mired summer-like temperatures, a strong cold front is set to usher in a more autumn-esque airmass across the northern Rockies and Plains today. The front is forecast to race south and east throughout the weekend, leading to a considerably cooler day in the central Plains and Midwest on Sunday. By Monday morning, below normal temperatures engulf the front range of the Rockies and throughout the High Plains with morning lows falling below freezing in the central Rockies. The cold front swinging through the central U.S. and the Intermountain West is also expected to cause gusty winds, which combined with low humidity levels is a recipe for favorable fire weather conditions. Elevated fire weather areas are spread out across the West today from California and the Four Corners region to the northern Plains, where a Critical Risk for fire weather conditions is in place. By Sunday, high pressure building over the Northwest and into the Great Basin sets the stage for downsloping winds in both northern and southern California. In fact, a Wind Advisory is in effect for much of the Sacramento Valley. Due to very dry air also present, the Storm Prediction Center has a pair of Critical Risks for fire weather in these areas on Sunday. Santa Ana winds are anticipated to occur in southern California come Monday morning and temperatures will also rise to well above normal levels along the coast of California and Oregon on Monday. Precipitation-wise, a weak frontal system moving just offshore will be responsible for producing scattered showers and thunderstorms along the coastal areas of the Mid-Atlantic. The area of low pressure off the East Coast will weaken into Sunday but a few spotty showers remain possible in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic. Farther south, showers and thunderstorms are likely to form along a convergence boundary near the central Gulf Coast and Southeast this afternoon and into Sunday. The cold front sweeping across the central U.S. is forecast to generate heavy showers and thunderstorms in the Upper Great Lakes today. The threat for showers and thunderstorms shifts into the central Plains and mid-Mississippi Valley on Sunday where a Slight Risk for flash flooding is in place. Lastly, the Pacific Northwest and northern Rockies can expect one more day of showers and even some high elevation mountain snow today before high pressure builds in from the west and forces a drying trend across these regions on Sunday. Mullinax Graphics available at www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/basicwx/basicwx_ndfd.php