Short Range Forecast Discussion NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD 322 AM EST Fri Nov 06 2020 Valid 12Z Fri Nov 06 2020 - 12Z Sun Nov 08 2020 ...Record or near record warmth continues for portions of the Desert Southwest, the Plains and the Upper Midwest... ...Major pattern change for the western U.S. begins to unfold Friday ahead of a strong Pacific storm... ...Increasing wind and chances for rainfall across southern Florida into the weekend... A large dome of high pressure centered over the central U.S. will lead to the potential for widespread record breaking temperatures across the Plains and Upper Midwest through this evening as temperatures are expected to be up to 40 degrees above average in many places. Records may be broken in the Desert Southwest as well. This warm air mass contracts a bit on Saturday as the upper-level ridge begins to shift eastward. Temperatures will remain anomalously high with temperatures soaring into record breaking territory once again. 30-40 degree departures from average are likely across the Northern/Central Plains on Saturday. The arrival of a potent upper-level disturbance from the Pacific will lead to heavy snowfall threats across the southern Cascades, the Sierra and the Rockies through Saturday. Snowfall amounts over the Cascades and Sierra will remain relatively light today while higher amounts are expected across the Northern, and especially the Colorado Rockies, where totals are expected to be well over a foot. The ice threat with this system is likely to be marginal through Saturday. Parts of eastern Arizona may see isolated areas of heavy rainfall on Saturday. Critical Fire Risk is in place over much of the Great Basin today as dry conditions and winds associated with the deepening Pacific low pressure system accelerate fire concerns. Tropical moisture will stream northward into Florida leading to 1-2 inches of rainfall across the southern part of the state, while scattered to isolated thunderstorms will remain a threat through Saturday. Winds will also pick up due to Tropical Storm Eta's arrival over nearby Cuba. Kebede Graphics available at www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/basicwx/basicwx_ndfd.php