Short Range Forecast Discussion NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD 410 AM EDT Sat Oct 24 2020 Valid 12Z Sat Oct 24 2020 - 12Z Mon Oct 26 2020 ...Significant snowfall continues to overspread the northern Rockies and the northern Plains today, pushing south into the central Rockies on Sunday and Monday... ...Record cold temperatures plunge into the Rockies and the Plains over the next few days... ...Elevated Fire Risk for the Four-Corners region and parts of the Central and Southern Rockies... A low pressure system currently moving onshore into the Pacific Northwest will interact with a surge of very cold air from western Canada to result in significant snowfall to spread from the northern Rockies into the northern Plains today. The snow will then push further southward into the central Rockies and the High Plains on Sunday together with plunging temperatures and blustery northerly winds, which will likely continue into Monday. Many locations will see 6 or more inches of snow by Monday morning for the lower elevations, increasing to a foot a snow or more for the higher elevations in the northern and central Rockies. A swath of mixed precipitation changing to snow will also extend into the upper Midwest Sunday into early on Monday. Temperatures will plummet over a vast portion of the country with this early season Arctic blast, resulting in numerous near or record-breaking daily values. Much of the northern and central Rockies will see readings fall below zero Sunday and Monday mornings. Strong winds behind the arctic front will also cause blowing and drifting of snow, with blizzard conditions possible at the windiest locations. In addition, Freeze Warnings are in effect for a large portion of the central Plains. For the Southwest/Interior West, dry air and gusty winds ahead of the approaching cold front will keep elevated to critical fire weather conditions in place. Red Flag Warnings are also in effect for parts of northern California, Utah and Colorado. Over the Great Lakes, a low pressure system moving away into Canada will bring an end to the strong thunderstorms early this morning. Some thunderstorms are still possible today for New England ahead of a cold front. Meanwhile, another very warm afternoon is forecast to continue today for much of the East Coast. The cold front will bring noticeably colder air into the Ohio Valley today but much of the Southeast remains warmer than normal on Sunday as the front stalls across the Appalachians. Finally, some tropical downpours are in store for southern Florida as the National Hurricane Center continues to monitor the potential for tropical cyclone development over the western Caribbean. Kong/Campbell Graphics available at www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/basicwx/basicwx_ndfd.php