Short Range Forecast Discussion NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD 337 PM EST Fri Nov 06 2020 Valid 00Z Sat Nov 07 2020 - 00Z Mon Nov 09 2020 ...Heavy snow to develop over the Northern Rockies and Northern High Plains... ...Record or near record warmth continues for portions of the Plains and the Upper Midwest... ...Increasing wind and chances for rainfall across southern Florida into the weekend... High pressure over the eastern third of the country will continue over the region through Sunday as a developing strong storm over the Rockies will produce heavy snow. Heavy snow will develop across the Northern Rockies Saturday, then intensify as it spreads across Northern Montana Saturday night through Sunday as strong low pressure tracks northeast over the Northern High Plains. There is high forecast confidence of 12 inches of snow Saturday night through Sunday night for eastern slopes of Montana Rockies and across North-Central Montana, including Great Falls and Glasgow. Local amounts in excess of 18 inches are likely. Northerly wind will increase to 20 to 30 mph with higher gusts on Sunday, causing considerable blowing and drifting snow. The heavy snow and strong wind will also reduce visibilities to less than a quarter mile at times. Travel conditions will quickly deteriorate Saturday night, and will remain treacherous into Monday from the heavy snow along with considerable blowing and drifting snow. Meanwhile, clock-wise circulation around strong high pressure over the eastern third of the U.S. will stream, on a southerly wind, potentially widespread record breaking temperatures across the Upper Midwest into parts of the Northeast on Saturday as temperatures are expected to be up to 30 degrees above average in many places. Critical Fire Risk is in place over much of the Great Basin as dry conditions and wind associated with the deepening Pacific low pressure system accelerate fire concerns. In addition, tropical moisture will stream northward into Florida leading to 3-4 inches of rainfall across the southern part of the state, while scattered to isolated thunderstorms will remain a threat through Saturday. Wind will also pick up as the pressure gradient tightens over the Southeast due to Tropical Storm Eta's arrival over nearby Cuba and the strong high pressure over the East. Ziegenfelder Graphics available at www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/basicwx/basicwx_ndfd.php