Short Range Forecast Discussion NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD 355 AM EDT Fri Apr 02 2021 Valid 12Z Fri Apr 02 2021 - 12Z Sun Apr 04 2021 ...Widespread freezing temperatures and record-breaking cold are expected from the Lower Mississippi Valley to the Northeast... ...Remarkably dry conditions are expected over the contiguous U.S. for the next couple of days, with some Elevated Risks of fire weather... Over the eastern U.S., an upper-level trough and a surface high pressure system coming in behind a cold front will lead to unseasonably cold temperatures today and Saturday morning but moderating closer to normal by Sunday. Temperatures are forecast to be 10 to 25 degrees below normal for much of the eastern third of the country, and many daily records for low minimum and maximum temperatures could be set. Freeze/Hard Freeze Warnings and Watches and Frost Advisories are widespread from eastern Oklahoma into the Middle/Lower Mississippi, Ohio, and Tennessee Valleys into the Southeast and parts of the Mid-Atlantic, as these cold temperatures in early April could cause damage to early-season crops and plants. Gusty winds along the East Coast will make it feel even colder at times. On the other hand, the western and north-central U.S. can expect much warmer conditions through the weekend, with much above average and possibly record-breaking warm temperatures. The Desert Southwest should see temperatures in the upper 90s, while 80s are forecast for northern and central portions of the Plains. However, these warm temperatures combined with dry soils and low relative humidities will lead to Elevated Risks of fire weather for parts of the Plains, as delineated by the Storm Prediction Center. There is also an Elevated Risk of fire danger across the western Florida coast given some gusty post-frontal winds and dry land conditions. Only light precipitation is expected across the contiguous U.S. over the next couple of days. Showers and isolated thunderstorms are possible across the Southwest today and moving into Texas tonight and Saturday, but totals will remain light. Light snow showers may occur across parts of the Northeast today, but with hardly any accumulations, and portions of the Florida peninsula could see isolated rain showers. Slightly higher precipitation amounts could come into the Northwest late Saturday into Sunday given a frontal boundary coming through. Also, today snowmelt and ice jams could lead to flooding in northern Maine, where there is a Flood Watch in effect. Tate Graphics available at www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/basicwx/basicwx_ndfd.php