Short Range Forecast Discussion NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD 352 AM EDT Sat Apr 10 2021 Valid 12Z Sat Apr 10 2021 - 12Z Mon Apr 12 2021 ...Stormy and unsettled weather pattern continues over much of the East this weekend; severe weather and localized flooding likely in parts the Southeast today... ...Elevated to Critical Risks of fire weather remain in place for the Southwest and southern High Plains... ...Cooler than normal temperatures and mountain snow in the Northwest, warmer than normal in the Southwest and Northeast... Saturday's weather across the Lower 48 is headlined by a strengthening area of low pressure tracking into the Midwest later in the day. Potent thunderstorm activity across the Deep South this morning looks to continue as it approaches the Southeast with some storms potentially becoming severe. These storms also contain heavy rainfall with rain rates in excess of 2 inches per hour possible. An Enhanced area for severe weather is in place for parts of the central Gulf Coast along with a Slight Risk for excessive rainfall in the same region. Strong thunderstorms are also in the forecast as far north as the Great Lakes and extending east to the Mid-Atlantic coast through this evening as the storm's cold front marches towards the East Coast. The Middle Mississippi River Valley will contend with periods of rain on the backside of the storm, along with gusty winds and abnormally cool temperatures. By Sunday, the storm fully occludes and its severe and heavy rainfall threat will not be as notable as Saturday, but lingering showers and thunderstorms are expected up and down the East Coast and around the Great Lakes. Some thunderstorms could be severe and contain excessive rainfall rates across the Florida Peninsula. Regarding other weather hazards around the country, fire weather conditions remain at Elevated to Critical levels in parts of the southern High Plains and southern Rockies today. There is also an Elevated risk for fire weather in central Florida. Another day of Elevated fire weather is on tap for the southern High Plains and southern Rockies on Sunday with locally Critical conditions expected. In the Northwest, an upper level disturbance aiding in the formation of a new storm system tracking through southern Canada will send a fresh injection of below normal temperatures into the Northwest and Northern Rockies this weekend. Some daily record cold lows may be broken in portions of the Pacific Northwest Sunday morning. Temperatures will be cold enough to promote periods of mountain snow from the Cascades and Bitterroots to the Northern Rockies and Big Horns. Most snowfall accumulations should remain below 6 inches, with the exceptions being in the highest elevations of the Cascades and Northern Rockies where higher amounts are possible. By Sunday, some light snow accumulations are possible in the northern High Plains. The cold front responsible for the cool down in the Northwest sweeps through the Great Plains on Sunday, leading to a much cooler regime engulfing the Heartland by Monday as cold Canadian high pressure builds in behind the front. Conversely, above normal temperatures set up shop today along the East Coast, over the eastern Great Lakes, and throughout the Desert Southwest today. A few record high temps may be set today, especially in the eastern Great Lakes. Abnormally mild conditions persist on Sunday over the Mid-Atlantic and throughout the Southwest. Mullinax Graphics available at www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/basicwx/basicwx_ndfd.php