Short Range Forecast Discussion NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD 358 PM EDT Mon Oct 26 2020 Valid 00Z Tue Oct 27 2020 - 00Z Thu Oct 29 2020 ...Early season winter storm to generate heavy snow and disruptive ice totals in parts of the southern Rockies and Plains; record cold temperatures to stick around through Tuesday... ...Critical to extreme fire risks and high wind threat for portions of California into the Desert Southwest... ...Hurricane Zeta to take aim at the central Gulf Coast late Wednesday... Mother Nature looks to hand out more "tricks" than "treats" weather-wise in the days leading up to Halloween weekend. Record cold temperatures look to stick around through Tuesday over portions of the Intermountain West and Nation's Heartland. This past weekend's snow storm is evolving into an ice storm in the southern and central Plains tonight and into Tuesday. The latest snowfall forecast through Wednesday afternoon calls for over a foot of snow in the higher elevations of New Mexico and snowfall amounts over 6 inches in portions of the southern High Plains. Ice accretion of one-quarter to one-half inch in parts of central Oklahoma are likely to cause numerous travel delays, downed tree limbs, and power outages. Lighter yet still hazardous ice accretions are expected from west-central Texas on north across southern Kansas and southwest Missouri. By Wednesday morning, the once frigid air-mass will moderate and warmer southerly flow should lead to a changeover from ice to rain throughout much of the central and southern Plains, but some lingering snow and ice are possible in eastern New Mexico, southeast Colorado, and both the Texas and Oklahoma Panhandles. Farther west, a prime setup for potentially damaging Santa Ana winds is unfolding today with strong wind gusts and many power outages reported up and down California. Fire weather conditions are dire with the combination of intense wind gusts and very dry humidity values. An Extreme Risk for fire conditions remain in place along the higher elevations of southern California today with Critical Risks in place over the Sacramento Valley and southern Great Basin. Tuesday remains a favorable day for favorable fire weather conditions with Critical Risks and Red Flag Warnings in parts of northern and southern California. Elevated fire conditions are possible in the Lower Colorado River Valley on Tuesday. The historic 2020 Atlantic tropical season roars on with Zeta now a category one hurricane as of this afternoon. Zeta slams into the Yucatan Peninsula tonight, then enters the Gulf of Mexico on Tuesday. From there, it will head north and is expected to make landfall along the central Gulf Coast late Wednesday. Impacts along the central Gulf Coast and portions of the Deep South include but are not limited to: soaking rainfall, inland flooding, hurricane conditions, and dangerous storm surge. Residents within Zeta's projected forecast track need to continue monitoring Zeta's progress, begin making preparations and, follow the advice of local officials. Mullinax Graphics available at www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/basicwx/basicwx_ndfd.php