Short Range Forecast Discussion NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD 413 PM EDT Thu Apr 01 2021 Valid 00Z Fri Apr 02 2021 - 00Z Sun Apr 04 2021 ...Record-breaking cold to overspread areas from the Lower Mississippi Valley to Northeast through Friday... ...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 deep low just off the Maine Coast will slowly move eastward into Southeastern Canada overnight Thursday. A tight pressure gradient around the low will help produce gusty winds over parts of the Northeast that will weaken overnight as the surface low fills. In the wake of the system, light snow will develop over parts of the Northeast into the Central Appalachians overnight Thursday, mostly ending by Friday morning. High pressure over the Upper Great Lakes into the Middle Mississippi Valley will slowly move eastward to the Southeast by Saturday evening. The high will usher in much colder temperatures and gusty winds across the eastern United States. Even though colder temperatures are coming in, the combination of previous warm temperatures and rain could lead to rivers rising and ice jams occurring across northern Maine. Flood Watches are in effect to highlight the potential hazard. Furthermore, the colder temperatures associated with the high will produce record cold temperatures from the Central Gulf Coast to the Mid-Atlantic. Additionally, record cold maximum temperatures may be in store for parts of the Southeast northward to the Northeast. Freeze Warnings and Watches, and Hard Freeze Warnings have been issued across the Middle Mississippi Valley, Tennessee, Lower Ohio Valleys, and Southeast and Mid-Atlantic parts. 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 through Saturday. 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. Also, Red Flag Warnings have been issued across the Northern Plains, as well as southeast Arizona. Ziegenfelder Graphics available at www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/basicwx/basicwx_ndfd.php