507 FXUS01 KWBC 251905 PMDSPD Short Range Forecast Discussion NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD 304 PM EDT Wed Mar 25 2026 Valid 00Z Thu Mar 26 2026 - 00Z Sat Mar 28 2026 ...Record-breaking heat continues to expand from the Southwest to the Plains, Midwest, and Southeast... ...Wintry precipitation expected across the northern tier today through Thursday... ...Severe thunderstorms likely across the Mid-Mississippi and Ohio Valleys on Thursday... Another record-breaking heat wave is underway, as a strong upper-level ridge remains situated over the Southwest. The ridge will shift east over the next couple of days, continuing to spread into the Plains today, Midwest on Thursday, and Southeast on Friday. Peak heat intensity is expected today into Thursday as temperatures reach 25-35 degrees above seasonable average. High temperatures in the 90s are expected from the Central/Southern Plains to the Mid-Mississippi Valley. Intense heat will begin to subside on Friday as the upper-level ridge weakens, although high temperatures near 90 degrees will remain possible in the Southeast. Numerous temperature records are expected to be tied or broken during this heat wave. A reprieve from the heat will arrive gradually from the north as a strong cold front pushes across the country tonight through Friday. Initially, an upper-level trough with an associated Pacific frontal system will move in, which will round the top of the ridge positioned over the Southwest and dig into the north-central and northeastern U.S. on Thursday and Friday. A stationary frontal boundary will continue to be in place across the northern tier, and the progressive upper-level wave will drive the front south across the central and eastern U.S. as a strong cold front. Much colder air will arrive in the wake of the front, with well below average temperatures expected for much of the central and eastern U.S. Friday into Saturday. This frontal boundary will be accompanied by wintry precipitation chances across the northern tier today through early Thursday, with the potential for several inches of snow in the Cascades and northern Rockies. Precipitation chances will also expand southward on Thursday, with showers and thunderstorms expected from the central Plains to the Mid-Atlantic. Scattered severe thunderstorms are expected across the Mid-Mississippi and Ohio Valleys on Thursday afternoon and evening. Severe storms are expected to bring a threat of very large hail (2+ inches in diameter), severe wind gusts (some 70+ mph) and a few strong tornadoes. Precipitation chances will linger in the Mid-Atlantic on Friday, with the front remaining mostly dry as it moves across the South and Southeast. In addition to precipitation chances, the frontal boundary will be accompanied by strong winds, which will create Elevated to Critical fire weather conditions across the northern/central Rockies and High Plains today and central/southern Rockies and Plains Thursday. Blanco-Alcala/Dolan Graphics available at https://www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/basicwx/basicwx_ndfd.php $$