Short Range Forecast Discussion NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD 344 AM EDT Mon Mar 29 2021 Valid 12Z Mon Mar 29 2021 - 12Z Wed Mar 31 2021 ...Strong cold front to bring an extensive area of high winds and critical fire weather today across the Northern Rockies and Northern/Central Plains... ...Potentially damaging wind gusts found across New England today... ...Moderate to locally heavy rain to make a return to the Lower Mississippi and Tennessee valleys beginning Tuesday afternoon... The biggest weather story to start the workweek will be high winds found across the Northern Rockies and much of the northern and central Great Plains. Not to be outdone, New England will also have its fair share of gusty winds to contend with today. Regarding the Central U.S., a strong cold front currently pushing across the Northern Rockies will enter the Central Rockies and Northern Plains by mid-morning, while quickly sinking into the Southwest and Southern Plains by Tuesday morning. A few snow showers may accompany the front as it passes through the high terrain of the Rocky Mountains today, which may significantly reduce visibility at times. Behind the front, strong winds will usher in below average temperatures. Wind gusts could exceed 60 mph for many locations across Northern Rockies and Northern/Central Plains. This could lead to downed power limes and treacherous travel for high profile vehicles. High Winds Warnings have are in effect for a large portion of the north-central United States. Another hazard associated with the strong winds is fire weather. The combination of warm temperatures ahead of the cold front, low relative humidity, and gusty winds could make conditions ripe for wildfires to spread uncontrollably. The Storm Prediction Center has issued a Critical Risk of fire weather across a majority of the Great Plains from North Dakota to the Texas Panhandle today, shifting toward southern New Mexico and West Texas on Tuesday. Red Flag Warnings have also been issued across a sizable area from the Northern Plains to Southern High Plains. High winds will also impact portions of the Northeast and New England today as a potent storm system exits toward the Canadian Maritimes. Winds could gust up to 60 mph between central New York and Massachusetts, which has prompted High Wind Warnings to be posted. Wind Advisories extend outward to include much of New England where maximum wind gusts are expected to reach up to 55 mph. Below average temperatures will accompany the gusty winds, with a few snow showers possible as well. By Tuesday afternoon and evening, the aforementioned cold front across the Central U.S. is forecast to reach the Lower Mississippi Valley. At the same time, moisture is expected to return to the region from the Gulf of Mexico via a slow moving warm front and fuel showers and thunderstorms from the Arklatex to the Tennessee Valley between Tuesday afternoon and Wednesday morning. SPC has issued a Marginal Risk of severe thunderstorms from northeast Texas to northern Mississippi/southwest Tennessee. However, the main concern may be in regards to flash flooding as heavy rain impacts a region that recently experienced flooding just a few days ago. The current forecast shows total rainfall amounts of 1 to 2 inches across the region. As a result, WPC has issued a Slight Risk of Excessive Rainfall for Tuesday that includes southwest Kentucky, western Tennessee, northeast Arkansas, and far northern Mississippi. Snell Graphics available at www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/basicwx/basicwx_ndfd.php