Short Range Forecast Discussion NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD 300 PM EST Sat Jan 09 2021 Valid 00Z Sun Jan 10 2021 - 00Z Tue Jan 12 2021 ...Several inches of snow expected for southern parts of the Rockies/Plains, and snow could also spread into the Lower Mississippi Valley... ...Colder than average temperatures are forecast for the southern half of the U.S. while the north-central U.S. is milder than normal... A cold surface high pressure system will settle in north of a low pressure/frontal system and bring snow to portions of the Central/Southern Rockies and Southern Plains through Sunday. Snow has already begun in portions of Colorado as of Saturday afternoon. Snowfall amounts of 4 to 8 inches are forecast from eastern New Mexico and eastward into west-central and north-central Texas through Sunday. Travel is likely to be hazardous, and visibility will be reduced where heavy snow rates occur, further hindering travel. Then as the low pressure system tracks eastward, a few inches of snow is possible Sunday night into Monday across portions of the Lower Mississippi Valley. Winter Storm Warnings and Watches and Winter Weather Advisories are in effect for parts of the south-central CONUS. Farther south, rain and possibly thunderstorms are expected along the Gulf Coast, with an inch or two of rain possible in parts of coastal Texas and Louisiana. Much below average temperatures in the south-central U.S. will help promote snow accumulation. High temperatures on Sunday should remain in the 30s across much of Texas, which is 20-30 degrees below average. Farther east, Freeze Warnings and Frost Advisories are in place for portions of Florida for Sunday morning's cold temperatures. Then snow cover is likely to hold down temperatures to 10-20 degrees below normal across the Southern Plains to Lower Mississippi Valley Monday. Meanwhile, the Northern Plains toward the Great Lakes region can expect milder than normal temperatures. Elsewhere, the Pacific Northwest can expect a couple rounds of light to moderate precipitation through Monday, but heavier amounts should hold off until the Tuesday-Wednesday timeframe. An Elevated Risk of fire danger is in place for southern portions of Arizona and New Mexico today. Tate Graphics available at www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/basicwx/basicwx_ndfd.php