Short Range Forecast Discussion NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD 331 AM EDT Mon Mar 22 2021 Valid 12Z Mon Mar 22 2021 - 12Z Wed Mar 24 2021 ...A strengthening storm system is set to bring unsettled weather, both wintry and severe in some cases, to the the Nation's Heartland... ...Low pressure system to produce rain and mountain snow showers across the Northwest and Intermountain West... ...Critical Risks of fire weather are in place for parts of the Southwest through Tuesday; mild and dry in the Northeast... An area of low pressure is set to strengthen throughout the day as it tracks into the Southern Plains. On the northern/colder side of the storm, periods of snow will transpire across the southern and central Rockies and High Plains this morning. Roughly 3-6 inches of snow are possible in the High Plains of Colorado and New Mexico with over a foot of snow expected in the higher elevations of these states. Within the storm's warm sector and along its warm front, widespread showers and thunderstorms will spread throughout the Central and Southern Plains where a Marginal Risk for excessive rainfall has been issued. Some storms could be severe this afternoon, especially in southern Oklahoma and north Texas where the Storm Prediction Center has a Slight Risk in place. The storm heads into the Midwest on Tuesday, bringing showers to the Upper Mississippi Valley and scattered thunderstorms to the middle Mississippi River Valley. The lower Mississippi Valley has the better odds of witnessing severe weather and excessive rainfall Tuesday afternoon and into Tuesday night. Farther west, another area of low pressure and its associated cold front usher in bouts of showers and mountain snow to the Northwest today. The heaviest snowfall totals are anticipated in the northern Rockies and in the Cascades where the highest elevations are forecast to receive over a foot of snow. The cold front plunges south Monday night and into Tuesday, delivering a fresh injection of much below normal temperatures to the Great Basin and Four Corners region on Tuesday. Light snow accumulations are expected in these regions on Tuesday, but an amplifying upper trough over the Southwest will result in heavier periods of snow developing in the southern Rockies Tuesday night into Wednesday morning. Elsewhere, fire weather conditions remain at Elevated to Critical levels in parts of the Southwest today and Tuesday due to blustery winds and low humidity levels. In the East, a dome of high pressure stretching from the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast to the northwest Atlantic ensures pleasantly mild temperatures and mostly dry conditions stick around through Wednesday morning. Mullinax Graphics available at www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/basicwx/basicwx_ndfd.php