226 
FXUS01 KWBC 260801
PMDSPD

Short Range Forecast Discussion
NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD
300 AM EST Thu Feb 26 2026

Valid 12Z Thu Feb 26 2026 - 12Z Sat Feb 28 2026

...Daily showers and thunderstorms across the Southern U.S. along
cold front...

...Clipper system brings modest snowfall from the Northern High
Plains into the Upper Midwest this weekend...

...Warm temperatures and dry conditions continue for much of the
Lower 48...

Our newly established weather pattern of a broad upper-trough in
the East on the periphery of a West Coast upper-ridge is expected
to persist through the next several days as we close out February.
At the surface, this pattern will maintain daily showers and
thunderstorms along a cold front which is forecast to gradually
stall out near the Gulf Coast this weekend. Localized heavy
rainfall amounts upwards of 1-2" are possible through Saturday,
which should be largely beneficial as much of the region remains
in drought conditions. The rest of the Lower 48 looks to stay dry
today, before another clipper system diving out the Canadian
Rockies leads to modest snowfall from the Northern High Plains
into the Upper Midwest tomorrow and Saturday. 

Temperature wise, much of the Lower 48 can enjoy much above
temperatures through the first half of the weekend. Daytime highs
in the Southwest and Southern Plains will be especially warm for
this time of year, and numerous record high temperatures could
fall through Sunday as temperatures climb into the upper-80's and
low 90's in places. By Saturday, the arrival of the clipper in the
Northern Tier will lead to a drastic cool-off for much of the
Northern Plains and Upper-Midwest. Eventually, this cooler air is
expected to reach the Northeast beyond Saturday.

Asherman/Blanco-Alcala/


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

$$