Short Range Forecast Discussion NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD 348 AM EDT Thu Apr 01 2021 Valid 12Z Thu Apr 01 2021 - 12Z Sat Apr 03 2021 ...Wet snow to impact portions of the Interior Northeast and far northern New England today... ...Record-breaking cold to overspread areas from the Lower Mississippi Valley to Northeast over the next few days... ...Warm temperatures found across the western United States with critical fire weather located across the Northern Plains and parts of the southern High Plains... A strengthening low pressure system currently located near southern New England is tracking north and will produce light-to-moderate rain this morning along coastal sections of the Northeast and New England. As it does so, a trailing cold front will usher in much colder temperatures and gusty winds across the eastern United States. Slightly farther west from the low pressure center, precipitation is expected to fall as snow today across Upstate New York and Northern New England. Heavy wet snow is forecast to specifically impact the Adirondack Mountains and far northern Maine, where upwards of 4 to 8 inches of snow could fall. Light snow showers will remain possible this evening and into early Friday across the Northeast and central Appalachians. Meanwhile, the combination of warm temperatures and rain could lead to rivers to rise and ice jams to occur across northern and central Maine. Flood Watches are in effect to highlight the potential hazard. The most wide-reaching hazard associated with the current weather pattern across the eastern half of the country includes bitter cold temperatures. Many locations from the northern/central Plains to the Tennessee Valley are waking up and starting the month of April this morning with subfreezing temperatures (nope, it's not an April Fools' joke). Highs today will struggle to climb out of the 30s and 40s from the Midwest to the Ohio and Tennessee valleys. As a strong high pressure system builds over Illinois by Friday morning, even colder temperatures are expected. In fact, several low temperature records could be set on Friday from the central Gulf Coast to the Northeast. Freeze Warnings and Watches, as well as Hard Freeze Warnings have been issued across the Middle Mississippi Valley, Tennessee and Lower Ohio valleys, as well as parts of the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic. Low temperatures are forecast to dip to near freezing as far south as central Georgia and southern South Carolina. Temperatures this cold during the beginning of April can cause damage to early-season crops and plants. Gusty winds along the East Coast will make it feel even colder at times. Across the western U.S., much warmer and tranquil weather is expected to end the workweek. High temperatures are forecast to run well above average and virtually no precipitation is expected. However, the combination of warm weather, low relative humidity, and gusty winds will create conditions ripe for wildfires to possibly spread uncontrollably across the northern Plains and southern High Plains. The Storm Prediction Center has issued a Critical Risk of fire weather that extends from northern Montana to far northwest Minnesota, with a small area issued across the greater western Oklahoma Panhandle region as well. In addition, Red Flag Warnings have been issued across the Northern Plains, as well as southeast Arizona. Snell Graphics available at www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/basicwx/basicwx_ndfd.php