Short Range Forecast Discussion NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD 249 PM EST Sun Mar 07 2021 Valid 00Z Mon Mar 08 2021 - 00Z Wed Mar 10 2021 ...Unsettled weather pattern from California and the Northwest to the Northern Rockies, mostly dry across the eastern two-thirds of the CONUS... ...Spring-like temperature regime engulfing much of the Heartland reaches the East Coast by Tuesday, cooler than normal conditions up and down the West Coast... ...Favorable fire weather conditions in parts of the Southern Plains and Southwest... The first in a pair of Pacific storm systems is currently producing areas of showers and mountain snow across the Pacific Northwest and northern Rockies. A brief lull in the action tonight and into Monday morning gives way to the second round of Pacific moisture arriving Monday afternoon. A steady diet of Pacific moisture will persist into Thursday as a deep upper level trough off the West Coast takes its time heading east. As the trough reaches the coast Tuesday night, snow levels will continue to drop with measurable snowfall in the Shasta and Sierra Nevada of northern California. Snowfall accumulations up to a foot are possible in the highest elevations through Tuesday night. Snow is also expected to blanket the northern Rockies but with slightly less snowfall accumulation. Meanwhile, the wettest area across the Lower 48 through Tuesday evening is likely to be the coast of northern California and southwest Oregon. To the east, much of the eastern U.S. is under the influence of strong high pressure, thus causing mostly dry conditions for most areas east of the Rockies. The lone exception is northern New England where passing snow showers are possible as a weak wave of low pressure pushes through the region. The aforementioned upper trough will be responsible for ushering in cooler than normal conditions along the West Coast. As the trough inches its way into the Intermountain West late Tuesday, expect cooler temperatures to replace the spring-like temperatures that were observed this weekend. Speaking of "spring", pleasantly mild temperatures will stick around from the Four Corners region to the Plains and Midwest on Monday. The dome of spring-like temperatures makes its way into the Mid-South and Great Lakes on Monday, then reaches the East Coast by Tuesday. Daily record warm max and min temperatures are likely in the North Central U.S. on Monday and Tuesday with daily record warm min temps becoming more widespread from the Midwest to the Southern Plains Wednesday morning. The Southwest and Southern Plains are caught between the upper trough along the West Coast and ridging over the eastern U.S., prompting brisk southerly flow to develop. Combined with low humidity levels, fire weather is likely to be a daily concern in these areas. A Critical Risk from the SPC Fire Weather Outlook is in place over eastern Kansas today with Elevated Risks issued on Monday for southeast Arizona, southwest New Mexico, and the southern High Plains. Look for the fire weather threat to linger into Tuesday across portions of the southern High Plains. Mullinax Graphics available at www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/basicwx/basicwx_ndfd.php