Short Range Forecast Discussion NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD 232 PM EDT Fri Oct 16 2020 Valid 00Z Sat Oct 17 2020 - 00Z Mon Oct 19 2020 ...No let up to the current pattern of much above average temperatures and a continued fire weather threat for the Southwest into California... ...Accumulating snows possible from portions of the Northern Plains into the Upper Mississippi Valley from Friday night through Saturday... ...Much below average temperatures across the Northern Plains Saturday will push south into the Central Plains and east into the Upper Mississippi Valley on Sunday... ...Heavy rains and isolated flooding possible Saturday across eastern portions of New England... No significant changes expected to the large scale weather pattern affecting the west coast this weekend. This will maintain the recent pattern of much above average temperatures from portions of the Southwest into California. Fire weather threats will remain significant into this weekend across portions of California with no precipitation expected, gusty winds and low relative humidities persisting. In addition, dangerous air quality will also continue near current wild fires. While summer temps continue across the Southwest and California, winter weather is on tap for portions of the Northern Plains into the Upper Mississippi Valley. An area of low pressure is forecast to push eastward from the Northern Rockies into the Northern Plains tonight into Saturday and then toward the Upper Great Lakes by early Sunday morning. This storm will produce an area of accumulating snows from northern portions of North Dakota into northern Minnesota. Temperatures will remain much below average across this area both Saturday and Sunday. As the low pushes into the Upper Great Lakes on Sunday, the trailing cold front will push quickly south into the Central Plains/Mid Mississippi Valley region. This will bring much colder temperatures on Sunday across these area with high temperatures 20 to 30 degrees colder Sunday than on Saturday. Wet weather will continue along portions of the east coast from the coastal Mid-Atlantic into New England tonight into Saturday. An area of low pressure is forecast to develop along the slow moving frontal boundary lying along the Northeast coast, supporting moderate to heavy rain potential across much of New England. Isolated flooding possible , especially across eastern portions of New England where the heaviest precipitation totals are expected. Oravec Graphics available at www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/basicwx/basicwx_ndfd.php