Short Range Forecast Discussion NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD 239 PM EDT Tue Oct 13 2020 Valid 00Z Wed Oct 14 2020 - 00Z Fri Oct 16 2020 ...Much cooler temperatures expected across the Plains on Thursday, spreading to the East by Friday. Much above average temperatures expected across the Central to Southern Plains Wednesday and through the remainder of the week across the Southwest and California... ...Increasing Fire Weather Threat Wednesday and Thursday across the Central to Southern Plains and portions of California... The fast west to east mid to upper level flow pattern currently across the lower 48 will undergo significant changes this period with the flow becoming much more amplified in a north to south direction. This will have big impacts on the temperatures across the mid section of the nation as this amplifying pattern will force a strong cold front south Wednesday across the Northern and Central Plains and into the Southern Plains by Thursday. Much above average temperatures across the Central to Southern Plains Wednesday will be replaced by much cooler temperatures on Thursday. In many locations across the Central to Southern Plains, the high temperatures Thursday will be 20 to 30 degrees colder than on Wednesday. This cooling trend will push into the East by Friday and Saturday. While the amplifying pattern supports colder temperatures across the central to eastern U.S. late this week, the opposite will be true across California and the Southwest. Temperatures here will remain well above average for the remainder of the week. In addition to the above average temperatures for the Southwest and California, the fire weather threat will be increasing over the next two days as increasingly windy conditions and low relative humidities push into this area. Increasing winds also likely across the Central to Southern Plains both ahead of and in the wake of the strong front pressing south across this area. This will also lead to an increased fire weather threat across these regions as this frontal boundary is expected to have little if any precipitation associated with it. Heavy precipitation threat this period will be across Maine tonight. Otherwise, only light to moderate totals expected from the Pacific Northwest across the Northern Rockies, portions of the Northern Plains, Upper Mississippi Valley, Upper Great Lakes and Florida over the next two days. Oravec Graphics available at www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/basicwx/basicwx_ndfd.php