Short Range Forecast Discussion
NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD
308 AM EDT Sun Mar 22 2026

Valid 12Z Sun Mar 22 2026 - 12Z Tue Mar 24 2026

...Low pressure system will bring snow to New England and
thunderstorms to the Ohio Valley and Mid-Atlantic today...

...Elevated to Critical fire weather condiitons for portions of
the southern Plains and Southwest today...

...Relief from the heat arrives in the northwestern and
north-central U.S. today...

A low pressure system will track across the Northeast today, with
wintry weather on the northern side of the system. Snow is
forecast to fall across New England through tonight, with locally
heavy snow possible. Total snow accumulations are expected to
reach 4-8 inches from central/northern Vermont through western
Maine. On the southern side of the system, showers and
thunderstorms are expected to spread from the southern Great Lakes
and Ohio Valley to the Mid-Atlantic and southern New England.
Isolated to scattered severe thunderstorms will be possible from
the Ohio Valley to the Mid-Atlantic this afternoon and evening and
could bring a threat of damaging winds and hail. Precipitation
will come to an end tonight into Monday morning as the low
pressure system pushes into the Atlantic.

The trailing cold front associated with the northeastern low
pressure system has already moved across the northern tier and
will continue to push south across much of the nation today into
Monday. The frontal passage will be accompanied by gusty winds,
which will combine with very low relative humidity values,
anomalously warm temperatures, and dry fuels to create Elevated to
Critical fire weather conditions for portions of the Southwest and
southern Plains today. Once the front passes, colder air will
filter in, bringing much needed relief from the heat to the
northwestern and central U.S. through Monday. Unfortunately, the
tail end of the front is expected to stall north of the Southwest,
allowing the record-breaking heat wave to persist into the work
week for this region.

Another frontal system will begin to sink into the north-central
U.S. by Tuesday, which could bring another chance of wintry
weather to the Great Lakes and Northeast mid-week. Precipitation
chances will also increase across the Northwest on Tuesday as a
Pacific low pressure system approaches the coast.


Dolan


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