Short Range Forecast Discussion NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD 317 AM EDT Mon Mar 10 2025 Valid 12Z Mon Mar 10 2025 - 12Z Wed Mar 12 2025 ...Widespread record high temperatures possible across portions of the Upper Midwest and Northern/Central Plains... ...Critical Fire Weather Risk over parts of the Northern Plains today then Southern High Plains through the rest of the week... A low pressure system will move into the Atlantic today while producing scattered showers and thunderstorms across the Southeast. Conditions should improve on Tuesday. Meanwhile, a potent low pressure system will dip into the northern tier states today, bringing strong winds and the potential for fires to the region. Ahead of this system, warm southerly flow will support anomalously high maximum temperatures in the 50s and 60s with some isolated areas possibly exceeding 70 degrees. These anomalous maximum temperatures will represent 20-40 degree departures from average for much of the Northern/Central Plains and Upper Midwest, where widespread records may be tied or broken. The arrival of the attendant cold front this afternoon/evening will moderate temperatures as well as increase potential for fires. The Storm Prediction Center issued a Critical Risk of Fires for much of the Dakotas where dry and windy conditions will support wildfires. An upper trough in the East Pacific will propagate through the Southwest on Tuesday, sending dry downslope flow from the Southern Rockies into the Southern High Plains. The addition of sustained winds, likely between 15-25 mph, will support a Critical Risk of Fires for portions of far southeast Arizona into southern New Mexico and far western Texas. The Critical Fire Risk is likely to continue over the Southern High Plains through the rest of the week. An amplified upper trough will bring unsettled weather to the West Coast Tuesday night into Wednesday. Kebede Graphics available at https://www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/basicwx/basicwx_ndfd.php