Short Range Forecast Discussion NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD 106 PM EDT Thu Apr 04 2024 Valid 00Z Fri Apr 05 2024 - 00Z Sun Apr 07 2024 ...Heavy Snow winds down over New England and Sierra Nevada... ...High Winds likely for Central Great Basin and Four Corners/Intermountain West... ...Critical Fire Risk for Central/Southern High Plains this weekend... A very strong and impactful low pressure system, which has already brought heavy snow to the Sierra Nevada, will spread rain and snow into the interior West over the next couple of days. Tonight, heavy snow over the Sierra Nevada will weaken as the focus for snow, rain and wind shift eastward. Over the next 24 hours, between 6-12 inches of snow is expected to accumulate over the Sierra Nevada; ranges of northeastern California, northern Nevada, Sawtooth; and the Blue Mountains. High winds will accompany this system, particularly over parts of the Great Basin and Intermountain West, where sustained winds of 35-45 mph and gusts up to 60 mph are possible. High Wind Warnings and Watches are in effect for those areas as a result. Snow showers spread into the Northern/Central Rockies Friday night into Saturday, with 4-8 inches possible over those areas. This system will reorganize and quickly intensify as it emerges over the Front Range this weekend. High winds, warm weather and low dew points will support a Critical Risk of Fire Weather over parts of the Central and Southern High Plains beginning Friday and continuing through at least Sunday. Scattered rain showers and thunderstorms will develop over the Central/Southern Plains on Saturday night, while snow continues over the Northern Rockies/High Plains. Meanwhile, in the East, a deep upper-level trough will slowly move off the Northeast Coast over the coming days. The associated low pressure system, which has already dumped several inches of snow over parts of the Northeast and New England, will linger around Downeast Maine over the next couple of days, spreading snow showers across the state and surrounding areas. Tonight, the heaviest snowfall will come to an end, but between 4-8 inches may still accumulate as the parent low lingers nearby. Snow showers continue over the Allegheny Mountains tonight, producing around 4-8 inches of snow. An omega block upper-level pattern will support below average temperatures across the West and East and above average temps in the Central U.S. over the next couple of days. Kebede Graphics available at https://www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/basicwx/basicwx_ndfd.php