Short Range Forecast Discussion NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD 259 AM EST Thu Mar 04 2021 Valid 12Z Thu Mar 04 2021 - 12Z Sat Mar 06 2021 ...Snow is expected in the Central Rockies today while rain and thunderstorms are likely in the Central/Southern Plains... ...A Critical Risk of fire weather is in place for the Southern High Plains today... ...Precipitation will increase for the Pacific Northwest today and in Northern California Friday... A low pressure system is forecast to move southeastward across the Southern Plains through Friday and into the Gulf of Mexico early Saturday, spreading precipitation across the central U.S. and then the Gulf Coast states. Snow is expected for higher elevations, especially in the Central Rockies, where 6-12 inches could fall today before ending tonight. Farther east, rain showers and thunderstorms are forecast across the Central/Southern High Plains. Rainfall amounts should be generally less than an inch, but there is some chance thunderstorms could be strong to severe, containing hail. Light showers and thunderstorms could then spread across central and eastern portions of the Gulf Coast and into Florida later Friday into Saturday. Behind the dryline and cold front associated with the low pressure system, fire danger will be a threat today with dry conditions and gusty winds. A Critical Risk of fire weather is delineated by the Storm Prediction Center over the Southern High Plains, along with Wind Advisories and a Fire Weather Watch. Rounds of upper-level energy spinning in the eastern Pacific and approaching frontal systems will lead to increasing precipitation chances in the Pacific Northwest today, spreading into Northern California on Friday. Rain is expected along the coast and in lower elevations, while higher elevations should see snow. Snowfall of over a foot is forecast for the Shastas though Saturday morning. Gusty winds are also possible in the West, and Wind Advisories and High Wind Warnings are scattered into Oregon and Northern California. Elsewhere, rounds of fairly light snow are possible across the interior Northeast over the next couple of days, which could end up accumulating to a few inches in the Green Mountains and Adirondacks. This will be in conjunction with cooler than normal temperatures there over the next couple of days, which should spread southward toward the Mid-Atlantic and Carolinas Friday as a cold front passes. Meanwhile, the Northern Plains can expect warmer than average temperatures by 20 to 35 degrees over the next couple days--highs could exceed 60 degrees. Tate Graphics available at www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/basicwx/basicwx_ndfd.php