Short Range Forecast Discussion NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD 300 PM EST Thu Mar 04 2021 Valid 00Z Fri Mar 05 2021 - 00Z Sun Mar 07 2021 ...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 expected to move southeast through the Southern Plains Friday and into the Gulf of Mexico early Saturday, while spreading precipitation across the Central U.S. and then the Gulf Coast states. Modest high elevation snow is forecast in the Rockies, where 4-6 inches could fall by tonight. Farther east, rain showers and thunderstorms are forecast across the Central/Southern High Plains. There is a chance some thunderstorms may be on the strong side today; the Storm Prediction center has issued a marginal risk of severe weather in the area for wind and hail threats through tomorrow. Showers and thunderstorms will then spread across central and eastern portions of the Gulf Coast and into Florida later Friday into Saturday; no severe weather is anticipated with these storms. Behind the dryline and cold front associated with the low pressure system, fire weather 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 today, along with Red Flag Warnings through this evening. Meanwhile, 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 further inland, while higher elevations should see snow. Snowfall up to 6 inches is forecast for the Sierra Nevada and Shasta ranges though Saturday morning. Gusty winds are also possible in these areas, 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 is forecast to spread southward toward the Mid-Atlantic and Carolinas Friday as a cold front passes through. Meanwhile, the Northern and Central Plains can expect unseasonably warm temperature 20 to 35 degrees over the next couple days, where highs could exceed 60 degrees. Asherman/Tate Graphics available at www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/basicwx/basicwx_ndfd.php