Short Range Forecast Discussion NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD 400 PM EDT Mon Mar 24 2025 Valid 00Z Tue Mar 25 2025 - 00Z Thu Mar 27 2025 ...Significantly above average, warm to hot early Spring temperatures will expand over the western/central U.S. this week with numerous monthly record highs possible... ...Wet weather across northwestern Washington state today is expected to taper off on Tuesday as chances for significant precipitation remain low across the lower 48 the next couple of days... A strong upper-level ridge building over the western into central U.S. will bring an early Spring heat wave this week as significantly above average temperatures expand in coverage across the region. Already well above average temperatures on Monday will be even warmer on Tuesday, with highs generally in the 60s and 70s for the Pacific Northwest/West Coast, throughout the Intermountain West, and into the northern/central Plains. Highs across the southern Plains will be in the 80s to low 90s while the Desert Southwest will see highs soar into the 90s and may even reach 100. Precipiation chances along the West Coast and into the southern Plains will bring temperatures down a few degrees on Wednesday as the focus of well above average highs shifts over the Intermountain West and northern/central Plains. Numerous record-tying/breaking daily and monthly highs will be possible Tuesday from Texas west through the Desert Southwest and northward along the West Coast. Additional record-tying/breaking highs will be possible in the Desert Southwest and throughout the Intermountain West Wednesday. Much of the country will be rather quiet with regards to significant precipitation the next couple of days, especially after Monday evening. A low pressure/frontal system approaching the East Coast will continue to bring some showers and thunderstorms to the East Coast and Gulf Coast through this evening, with some additional light snowfall accumulations further north over portions of Maine into Tuesday morning. Lingering light rain/snow showers will remain possible over the Great Lakes and interior Northeast as the parent upper-low spins down. Heavy rainfall and a flood risk will also wind down along upslope portions of the Olympic Mountains and northern Cascades in Washington into Monday evening as an Atmospheric River event comes to an end. Some lower elevation rain showers and higher elevation snow showers will continue across the Pacific Northwest into the northern Rockies as a frontal boundary lingers in the region. A clipper system dropping southeastward through the Midwest into the Ohio Valley and eastward into the Mid-Atlantic will also bring some light shower chances the next couple of days, which may mix with a little snow for the Upper Midwest and higher elevations of the Appalachians. A cluster of shower and thunderstorms are expected Tuesday night along and north of a frontal boundary through the Southern Plains, most likely over northern Texas and southern Oklahoma. Finally, heading into Wednesday, increasing moisture along the Rio Grande will bring shower and thunderstorm chances into southern and southwestern Texas, and the next Pacific system approaching the Pacific Northwest will also bring the return of wet weather to the region. Putnam Graphics available at https://www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/basicwx/basicwx_ndfd.php