Short Range Forecast Discussion NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD 353 PM EDT Sun Mar 21 2021 Valid 00Z Mon Mar 22 2021 - 00Z Wed Mar 24 2021 ...A storm system will become better organized across the central U.S., bringing rain and storms to the Plains and Mississippi Valley and snow to the Central Rockies/Front Range... ...Critical Risks of fire weather are in place for parts of the southern High Plains through Monday... A low pressure system is forecast to continue organizing in the southern High Plains tonight and move slowly eastward Monday before tracking northeast into the Lower Missouri Valley on Tuesday. This system will spread precipitation to much of the central U.S. over the next couple of days. On the low's backside in and around Colorado, snow of over a foot is possible in the Central Rockies/Front Range, and some snow should spread into the central High Plains as well, accumulating to a few inches. Farther east, rain and some thunderstorms are expected to increase in coverage across much of the Plains and Mississippi Valley on Monday into Tuesday. Through Tuesday evening, rain of 1 to 3 inches is forecast for portions of those regions, and locally heavy rainfall could cause isolated flooding. Limited moisture in the Southwest to southern High Plains along with gusty winds and dry fuels will lead to fire danger over the next couple of days. Elevated to Critical Risks of fire weather are outlined by the Storm Prediction Center there through Monday, along with Red Flag Warnings and High Wind and Fire Weather Watches. Another frontal system is expected to move southward from the Northwest tonight to the Southwest by Tuesday, spreading precipitation along with it. Snow accumulations of 6 to 12 inches are likely in the Cascades and Northern Rockies, with a few inches of snow in other mountainous regions across the Intermountain West and light snow or mix in lower elevations. In the East, showers could continue from Florida to the coastal Carolinas overnight with an offshore low pressure system and frontal boundary in place. Gusty winds are also possible, along with high surf and the risk of rip currents. Dry conditions are expected to prevail in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast underneath high pressure. In terms of temperatures, the western half of the U.S. will generally be cooler than average through Tuesday given a couple of cold frontal passages. Much of the eastern U.S. should see above normal temperatures, with highs 10 to 20 degrees above average from the Midwest to Northeast. Tate Graphics available at www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/basicwx/basicwx_ndfd.php