Short Range Forecast Discussion NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD 202 AM EST Wed Jan 13 2021 Valid 12Z Wed Jan 13 2021 - 12Z Fri Jan 15 2021 ...High Wind Warnings over Montana and portions of the Northern/Central Plains... ...Above average temperatures across the northern tier of the country... Rain and snow will wind down across the Pacific Northwest today as the associated shortwave trough deepens and crosses the Northern Rockies/Plains. This deepening will lead to a tightening pressure gradient at the surface and increased winds for that region through tomorrow. High Wind Watches and Warnings are currently in effect for an area spanning across Montana, the Front Range and the Northern/Central Plains. A potent mid-latitude cyclone will traverse southern Canada as it swings its associated frontal boundaries across the Great Plains and Midwest through Thursday, before another low develops and becomes dominant over the Upper Midwest on Friday. There's an increasing signal for a late week winter weather event as the aforementioned area of low pressure deepens and stalls itself out over the Upper Midwest. Temperatures will remain well above average across the Northern/Central Plains today as an upper-level ridge moves across the region and towards the Northeast. Highs and lows may be 40 degrees above average for some places extending from the Dakotas to central Kansas. Though, it's important to note that the warmth won't be particularly hazardous since temperatures will only peak in the 50s-60s during the day and 20s/30s overnight. Nonetheless, high and low temperature records may be broken through tonight. The Northeast will experience a late week warm-up as the upper-level ridge shifts into the region. Kebede Graphics available at www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/basicwx/basicwx_ndfd.php