As an upper-level trough exits the West, gusty winds and low relative humidity will lead to critical fire weather conditions and low to moderate significant fire potential from southern New Mexico and southwest Texas through much of the southern High Plains today. Residual dry and breezy conditions are likely in portions of southern Wisconsin as well. Severe weather is likely on the central Plains and in the Carolinas today shifting to the Mississippi Valley tomorrow, with thunderstorms from the Gulf Coast through the Great Lakes. Heavy rain is likely in portions of the Great Lakes and along the central Gulf Coast through the weekend. Lingering dry and breezy conditions, mostly post-frontal, are likely on portions of the southern and central Plains and in the southern Rockies through the weekend. Another upper-level trough will approach the West late this weekend and move over the northern half of the West by mid-next week. Cooler temperatures and precipitation will accompany the trough, but widespread or heavy precipitation is not anticipated except along and west of the Cascades and in portions of the northern Rockies west of the Divide next week. Dry and windy conditions are likely in portions of the Great Basin Sunday spreading to the southern half of the Intermountain West and on the southern and central Plains Monday through Wednesday. Elevated to critical fire weather conditions and moderate to high-risk significant fire potential are expected across portions of these areas, especially in the Southwest and on the Plains, next week. Dry and breezy post-frontal conditions are forecast along and east of the central and southern Appalachians early to mid- next week likely resulting in elevated fire weather conditions and moderate to possibly high-risk significant fire potential.