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FXUS01 KWBC 062000

PMDSPD



Short Range Forecast Discussion

NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD

359 PM EDT Sat Apr 6 2024



Valid 00Z Sun Apr 7 2024 - 00Z Tue Apr 9 2024



...Winter Storm to produce high winds and snow across the Western

High Plains...



...Critical to Extreme Fire Weather Risk continues over portions

of the Central/Southern High Plains...



...Warm start to the week for much of the east-central U.S. and

below average for the West...



The main thing making weather headlines this weekend will be the

strong low pressure system over Nebraska that slowly drifts

eastward to northern Iowa and southern Minnesota by Sunday night. 

The sub 990 mb low will have an impressive wind field around it

across much of the western High Plains through Sunday, and this

will produce 25-50 mph winds with higher gusts from eastern New

Mexico to eastern Nebraska, where high wind warnings are currently

in effect.  In addition, very dry conditions combined with these

winds is leading to an environment favorable for wildfire growth,

especially for western portions of the Southern Plains where a

critical fire risk is depicted by SPC, and even a small extreme

risk area just north of the Texas Panhandle for Saturday

afternoon/evening.  There is also a winter storm component to this

low pressure system, with additional heavy snow expected across

eastern Wyoming/Montana and western portions of the Dakotas and

Nebraska, with some blizzard conditions possible at times.  By the

time the low reaches the Upper Midwest, a weakening trend will be

in progress with lingering showers across this region going into

Monday, and more snow showers over the Dakotas.



For the total solar eclipse on Monday afternoon, mostly cloudy to

overcast skies are likely across central/eastern Texas and into

southern Arkansas as Gulf moisture increases ahead of the next

storm system developing over the Southern Plains.  Some severe

weather is possible later on Monday for much of this same region. 

There will probably be some breaks in the clouds from northern

Arkansas to central Ohio behind the passage of the warm front, and

then mostly cloudy from eastern Ohio to western portions of New

York.  Clearer skies are currently likely across northern New

England, although some high clouds can't be ruled out from Upstate

New York to Vermont.



Much of the Western U.S. should be below average in terms of

temperatures through the weekend behind the Great Plains storm

system, while the East Coast sees a moderation trend compared to

recent cold weather.  The warm front crossing the Ohio Valley will

bring a welcomed return to more pleasant spring-like readings to

start the work week, with highs well into the 70s on Monday as far

north as northern Illinois and Indiana.



Hamrick





Graphics available at

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



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