Short Range Forecast Discussion
NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD
400 AM EDT Tue Apr 25 2023

Valid 12Z Tue Apr 25 2023 - 12Z Thu Apr 27 2023

...Heavy rains, isolated flash flooding and severe weather possible across
portions of the Central to Southern Plains...

...Heavy wet snow expected to develop over the Colorado Rockies and into
portions of the Front Range later today...

...Below average temperatures for large portions of the nation to the east
of the Rockies, while above average temperatures expand across the West...

...Elevated to Critical Fire weather conditions to persist across the
southern Rockies to southern High Plains...

A cool spring weather pattern is on tap for the next few days for most
areas to the east of the Rockies.  A broad mid to upper level trough will
remain entrenched across much of the central to eastern half of the
nation, supporting below average temperature over the next few days for
most areas to the east of the Rockies.  Widespread freeze and frost
advisories are currently in effect for the interior eastern to
northeastern U.S. this morning.  As the broad upper low continues to bring
additional rounds of showers and high-elevation wet snow across New
England, moisture associated with the next weather maker has already moved
into the Intermountain West and portions of the Rockies.  This relatively
quickly-moving system will sweep a cold front through the central Rockies
today.  Mountain snow and valley rain early this morning across the
northern Rockies are forecast to reach the central Rockies later today as
a surface low pressure system forms and develops over the central High
Plains.  As this low intensifies, heavy wet snow is forecast to develop
over the Colorado Rockies, the foothills, and possibly spreading into
portions of the Front Range from late today into early Wednesday
morning.  This system will also be responsible for triggering and
expanding organized clusters of showers and thunderstorms across the
central to southern Plains today, with the threat of flash flooding
increasing as the day progresses across portions of the central to
southern Plains from southeast Colorado, western and southern Kansas, all
of Oklahoma and northern Texas.  Some of the thunderstorms are expected to
become severe, especially farther south in the warm sector across eastern
Texas.  Meanwhile, the snow across central Colorado should taper off
during the day on Wednesday as the system pushes farther east and brings
showers and storms into southern Texas as well as the lower to
mid-Mississippi Valley by Thursday morning.

The cool spring weather pattern will also support potential for widespread
frosts and freezes early this morning across the Upper Ohio Valley, the
Southern to Central Appalachians and portions of the Mid-Atlantic. Freeze
warnings and frost advisories are currently in effect for these regions. 
Morning temperatures will also likely fall to below freezing levels both
Tuesday and Wednesday mornings from the Northern Plains, into the Upper
Mississippi Valley and Upper Lakes regions.  A round of cold rain will
possibly be preceded by some snow late Wednesday into early Thursday across
the northern Plains as the next frontal system moves through.

Farther to the south and west across the southern High Plains, dry
conditions are expected to persist over the next several days.  These dry
conditions, combined with low relative humidities and gusty winds will
keep the fire weather threat at an elevated to critical level over the
next few days across large portions of New Mexico, far southeastern
Arizona and southwest Texas.  Fire Weather watches are currently in effect
across these regions.

While below average temperatures grip much of the central to eastern U.S.
early this week, above average temperatures will be expanding across much
of the western U.S.  This much above average temperature pattern will
likely continue through the remainder of the week with a gradual increase
in temperatures each day.  This may lead to some record high temperature
potential for portions of northern California, western Oregon and western
Washington State toward the end of the work week.

Kong/Oravec

Graphics available at
https://www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/basicwx/basicwx_ndfd.php