508 
FXUS01 KWBC 221959
PMDSPD

Short Range Forecast Discussion
NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD
358 PM EDT Wed Apr 22 2026

Valid 00Z Thu Apr 23 2026 - 00Z Sat Apr 25 2026

...Heavy snow expected for higher elevations of the northern
Rockies the next few days...

...Thunderstorm chances return to portions of the Upper Midwest
and central/southern Plains Thursday with severe weather and
isolated flash flooding possible...

...Gusty winds and warm, very dry conditions will lead to a
Critical Risk of fire weather across much of the High Plains
through Thursday...

A potent upper-trough and strong surface frontal system from the
Pacific is forecast to bring snow, severe weather, heavy rainfall,
and a threat for wildfires from the western to central U.S.
through the end of the week.  Snow is expected for the northern
Rockies into Thursday and Friday, with totals of 6-12"+ likely for
the higher terrain.  The upper-trough and cold front will reach
the northern/central Plains Tonight, with the potential for some
thunderstorms.

Increasing winds arrive on Thursday as the upper-trough moves
eastward, and increasing moisture and instability from the south
will lead to more widespread and stronger thunderstorms across the
Upper Midwest southwest through the Missouri Valley, and also for
portions of the central/southern Plains.  A Slight Risk of severe
weather is currently in place from the Storm Prediction Center for
the threat of large hail, damaging winds, and a few tornadoes,
along with the potential for some flash flooding.  The severe
weather and flash flood threat is expected to be across the
ArkLaTex/Ozarks region east into the Lower Mississippi Valley on
Friday.  There will also be downsloping winds and warm, very dry
conditions, prompting a widespread Critical Risk of fire weather
(level 2/3) from the SPC Thursday across much of the southern High
Plains.

Elsewhere, an upper-wave will result in some scattered showers to
New England going into early Thursday, with a wintry mix possible
for higher interior locations.  In terms of temperatures, an
upper-ridge ahead of the western upper-trough will lead to well
above average conditions from the central/southern Plains to the
Midwest Thursday, as highs top out in the 80s for many locations. 
Conditions will continue to become warmer across the Ohio
Valley/Mid-Atlantic and along the southern tier from the southern
Plains into the Southeast following a cooler start to the week,
with highs into the 70s and 80s in most cases.  Central and
northern New England should remain cooler and below average north
of a frontal boundary, with highs generally in the 40s and 50s. 
Meanwhile, the eastward moving upper-trough/cold front will bring
an area of much cooler temperatures eastward.  The cold front will
bring a sharp drop in temperatures into western portions of the
northern/central Plains Thursday into Friday as highs drop into
the 40s and 50s here as well.  Conditions will gradually moderate
to the west following the passage of the upper-trough on Thursday,
with highs rising into the 70s along the West Coast and 60s for
the Interior West.

Hamrick/Putnam


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




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