Intermediate-Term Weather Outlook

Short Range Forecast Discussion
NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD
Tue Jul 30 2024
Valid 12Z Tue Jul 30 2024 – 12Z Thu Aug 01 2024

…Daily scattered flash flooding and severe weather from the Mid-Atlantic
into the Northern Plains/Midwest…

…Dangerous mid-summer heat wave to expand across the Central U.S. and
Southeast; more hot weather across the West…

An active, unsettled pattern will continue across the eastern half of the
Lower 48 as an elongated frontal system with access to abundant moisture
and instability leads to repeat bouts of thunderstorms through midweek.
This will maintain a daily threat of scattered (level 2/5) flash flooding
and severe weather from the Mid-Atlantic, Ohio/Tennessee Valley, Midwest,
and Northern Plains through Thursday. Daily isolated flash flooding
chances should also continue across the Southwest tied to the monsoon.

Thunderstorms aside, heat will become the big story over the Central and
Southeast U.S. this week as an upper-level high strengthens. Forecast high
temperatures Monday and Tuesday are expected to soar into the triple
digits over the Central Plains, with upper-90s to low 100s to the west
over much of the High Plains, and mid-to upper 90s for the Middle and
Lower Mississippi Valley. High humidity values over the Mississippi Valley
and eastern portions of the plains will lead to heat indices in the
105-110 degree range, potentially as high as 115 for some locations, with
widespread Excessive Heat Warnings and Advisories in place. Warm morning
lows only dropping into the mid- to upper 70s will provide little relief
from the heat overnight. This combination of hotter temperatures to the
west, higher heat indices to the east, and the multi-day duration of this
heat wave will increase the danger not only to more sensitive groups, but
also the general public, particularly those without adequate air
conditioning.

West of the Continental Divide, a troughing pattern and associated cool
weather over the West will give way to widespread warm weather by Thursday
as a stationary Pacific front washes away beneath widespread height rises
across the region. By Friday, we can expect high temperatures in the 90’s
and triple digits across much of the West which could challenge numerous
records across the region. Unfortunately, smoke from area wildfires will
also continue to plague parts of the West, particularly over portions of
the northern Great Basin, resulting in poor air quality and areas of
reduced visibility.

Short Range Forecast Discussion
NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD
Mon Jul 29 2024
Valid 12Z Mon Jul 29 2024 – 12Z Wed Jul 31 2024

…Flash flooding possible in the Ohio/Tennessee Valleys and
central/southern Appalachians through early this week…

…Scattered severe thunderstorms forecast across portions of the Northern
Plains Monday and Upper Midwest Tuesday…

…Dangerous mid-summer heat wave to begin expanding across the central
U.S. on Monday…

Bouts of thunderstorms are expected to continue over portions of the
Ohio/Tennessee Valleys and spread further into the central/southern
Appalachians to start off the work week. An active upper-level pattern
featuring at least a couple shortwaves and an approaching surface frontal
system from the west will help to focus storm development over the
Ohio/Tennessee Valleys and eventually into the southern Appalachians
Monday. Plentiful moisture in place will also continue to lead to the
threat of heavier rain rates, with increasing storm coverage into the
evening and potential back building/repeated rounds of storms raising the
chance for locally heavy rainfall totals. As such, a Slight Risk of
Excessive Rainfall (level 2/4) is in place for the threat of some
scattered flash flooding. In addition, sufficient instability/shear will
be in place over the Ohio Valley for a couple more intense storms, as well
as the threat for a more organized storm complex later Monday evening. The
Storm Prediction Center has included a Slight Risk (level 2/5) for severe
weather as well mainly for the threat of damaging winds. A similar pattern
will be in place on Tuesday, with the focus shifting further into the
southern and central Appalachians as the upper-level energy and surface
frontal system move eastward. Another Slight Risk of Exessive Rainfall is
in effect here for additional instances of flash flooding. Outside of the
flash flooding threat, scattered thunderstorms with moderate to locally
heavy rainfall are expected more broadly over the Midwest/Southeast
Monday, and also over portions of New England as a coastal low approaches.
Rain chances will expand over the Mid-Atlantic/Northeast as the system
approaches from the west on Tuesday. Forecast high temperatures across the
East will vary depending on cloud/storm coverage, with mostly mid-80s to
low 90s expected.

Some additional storms will be possible further west along the frontal
boundary into the Upper Midwest and Northern Plains. Embedded upper-level
energy will help to trigger one round of storms over the Northern Plains
on Monday. Stronger upper-level flow will lead to more deep-layer shear
here than further east, with another Slight Risk of severe weather for the
threat of some very large hail as well as significant damaging winds if
storms consolidate/grow upscale into an organized system later in the
evening. Another round of severe weather is possible downstream over the
Upper Midwest Tuesday as yet another upper-level impulse helps to trigger
storms along the frontal boundary. Very high moisture will lead to strong
to extreme instability, with a Slight Risk in place for the chance of more
damaging winds.

Outside of the severe weather threat, heat will become the big story more
broadly over the central U.S. over the next few days as an upper-level
high strengthens/expands over the region. Forecast high temperatures
Monday and Tuesday are expected to soar into the low to mid-100s over the
Central Plains, with upper-90s to low 100s to the west over much of the
High Plains, and mid- to upper 90s for the Middle and Lower Mississippi
Valley. High humidity values over the Mississippi Valley and eastern
portions of the plains will lead to heat indices in the 105-110 degree
range, potentially as high as 115 for some locations, with widespread
heat-related warnings/advisories in place. Warm morning lows only dropping
into the mid- to upper 70s will provide little relief from the heat
overnight. This combination of hotter temperatures to the west, higher
heat indices to the east, and the multi-day duration of this heat wave
will increase the danger not only to more sensitive groups, but also the
general public, particularly those without adequate air conditioning.

A stagnant troughing pattern over the West will keep temperatures mostly
below average across the region, especially over portions of the Pacific
Northwest and northern Great Basin/Rockies. Forecast highs Monday-Tuesday
range between the 60s and 70s along the Pacific Coast, the 70s and 80s in
the Pacific Northwest and northern Great Basin/Rockies, the 80s and 90s
for interior California and the central Great Basin/Four Corners Region,
and 100s in the Desert Southwest. A cold front passing through the Pacific
Northwest will bring some rain chances on Monday, spreading into the
northern Rockies Tuesday. Smoke from area wildfires will also continue to
plague parts of the West, particularly over portions of the northern Great
Basin, resulting in poor air quality and areas of reduced visibility.

Short Range Forecast Discussion
NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD
Sun Jul 28 2024
Valid 12Z Sun Jul 28 2024 – 12Z Tue Jul 30 2024

…Flash flooding possible in the Ohio/Tennessee Valleys Sunday, spreading
into the central/southern Appalachians by Monday…

…Severe thunderstorms expected across portions of the Northern/Central
Plains with flash flooding into the Upper Midwest Sunday…

…Cooler than normal for much of the West with monsoonal thunderstorms
for portions of the Southwest…

A lingering frontal boundary snaking through the Ohio/Tennessee Valleys
deeper into the Southeast and off the Atlantic coast will continue to help
trigger scattered showers and thunderstorms over the next couple of days.
An upper-level wave passing over the Ohio/Tennessee Valleys will provide a
focus for more numerous storms on Sunday, possibly into the
central/southern Appalachians as well, with very moist, southerly Gulf
flow leading to some locally heavy downpours. A Slight Risk of Excessive
Rainfall (level 2/4) is in effect for the threat of some scattered
instances of flash flooding, particularly where storms may have the
tendency to backbuild/repeat over areas in vicinity of the frontal
boundary. Then, as the upper-level wave continues east on Monday, the
focus for storms will spread further into the central/southern
Appalachians, with another Slight Risk of Excessive Rainfall in effect for
additional instances of flash flooding. High temperatures broadly across
the Ohio Valley into the Southeast and along the Gulf Coast will remain at
or a bit below average given widespread clouds and storms, with highs
generally in the mid-80s to low 90s.

A frontal system passing slowly through the Northern/Central Plains and
the Upper Midwest will bring storm chances to these regions Sunday.
Plentiful moisture, instability, and strong upper-level flow overhead
leading to sufficient deep-layer shear is expected to result in some more
intense, organized storms. Initially isolated storms/supercells over
portions of South Dakota, central Nebraska, and northwestern Kansas may
produce some large hail and damaging winds. Eventual upscale growth into
an organized convective system Sunday evening may bring a damaging wind
threat downstream into southwestern Minnesota and northwestern Iowa. The
Storm Prediction Center has highlighted these areas with a Slight Risk
(level 2/5) of severe weather. The expanding coverage of storms heading
eastward, as well as plentiful moisture to lead to heavy rainfall rates,
will also bring the threat of flash flooding into Iowa. Additional storms
will continue ahead of the front over Minnesota through early morning
Sunday, with another round of storms expected Sunday night. Repeated
storms bringing heavy rainfall on top of already wet antecedent conditions
will lead to the risk of some scattered flash flooding here as well. A
Slight Risk of Excessive Rainfall extends from portions of Minnesota
southward into Iowa to cover these threats. The system will continue into
the Great Lakes region Monday, bringing showers and storms with moderate
to locally heavy rainfall. High temperatures ahead of the front will be
rather hot, running 10-15 degrees above average for some locations, with
80s to near 90 in the Upper Midwest and 90s to low 100s southwestward into
the Central Plains and southern High Plains. A few near
record-tying/breaking highs will be possible in the southern High Plains
Monday.

An upper-trough over the West will keep temperatures below average for
most of the region. Forecast highs Sunday-Monday range between the 60s and
70s along the Pacific Coast; 70s and 80s in the Pacific Northwest; 80s and
90s in the Great Basin, Four Corners Region, and interior California; and
the 100s into the Desert Southwest. Some Monsoonal storms will continue
over parts of the Southwest, particularly southeastern
Arizona/southwestern New Mexico, with an isolated threat of flash
flooding. A storm system approaching the Pacific Northwest will bring some
shower chances here as well. Smoke from wildfires will also continue to
plague parts of the West, particularly over the northern Great
Basin/Rockies, resulting in poor air quality and areas of reduced
visibility. Elsewhere, conditions will be trending hotter across most of
the Northeast, with 80s and low 90s forecast. A coastal low approaching
southern New England is looking more likely to bring cooler temperatures
and some rain chances over the next couple of days.

Short Range Forecast Discussion
NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD
Fri Jul 26 2024
Valid 12Z Fri Jul 26 2024 – 12Z Sun Jul 28 2024

…Scattered showers and thunderstorms continue across much of the South
with a risk for flash flooding Friday in the coastal Carolinas and
southeastern Texas…

…Storm chances for portions of the Upper Midwest and Northern Plains
heading into the weekend with severe weather possible Saturday…

…Monsoonal thunderstorms continue for portions of the Intermountain West
with isolated flash flooding possible…

Scattered showers and thunderstorms will continue across much of the South
along and ahead of a cold front slowly pushing southward through the
region. Plentiful moisture will bring the threat of some locally heavy
downpours. A couple upper-level waves, one over the Carolinas and another
to the west over the Southern Plains, will help to provide a focus for
some locally more widespread, intense downpours along the coastal
Carolinas and southeastern Texas. Wet antecedent conditions from rainfall
the past few days will increase the risk for some scattered flash
flooding, with Slight Risks of Excessive Rainfall (level 2/4) in place. An
isolated threat for flash flooding will exist more broadly across the
region both Friday and Saturday. The presence of storms and general
cloudiness will help to keep temperatures near or below Summer-time
averages, especially over portions of eastern and central Texas, with
highs generally in the 80s.

A frontal boundary draped across the Upper Midwest/Northern Plains will be
the focus for daily thunderstorm chances heading into the weekend. More
widely scattered storms are expected Friday before a passing upper-level
shortwave helps to encourage more widespread storms on Saturday.
Sufficient instability along with the arrival of stronger winds aloft
bringing increasing deep-layer shear is expected to result in at least a
few more intense thunderstorms. The Storm Prediction Center has issued a
Slight Risk of severe weather (level 2/5) for portions of northwestern
Minnesota and eastern North Dakota for the threat of some large hail as
well as damaging winds, particularly if storms can organize into a
convective system into the evening hours. High temperatures will remain
rather hot across the Northern/Central Plains and Upper Midwest, with
highs in the 90s upwards of 10-15 degrees above average.

Monsoonal showers will continue across portions of the Intermountain West
Friday and Saturday, particularly from the Southwest north through the
Rockies and central Great Basin. Deep moisture lingering through the area
will bring the threat for some locally intense downpours. Isolated
instances of flash flooding will remain possible, particularly for terrain
sensitive areas such as burn scars. Forecast highs across the West will
generally be below average with an upper-level trough overhead, with highs
in the 80s and 90s across the Pacific Northwest, Great Basin, Rockies, and
interior California, and 60s and 70s along the Pacific Coast. The Desert
Southwest will be much hotter, with highs in the low to mid-110s.
Elsewhere, conditions will be mostly dry from the Midwest to the Northeast
under the presence of high pressure. Forecast high temperatures Friday
will be a bit below average, with low to mid-80s forecast. Highs will warm
up a bit on Saturday, reaching into the mid- to upper 80s.

Short Range Forecast Discussion
NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD
Thu Jul 25 2024
Valid 12Z Thu Jul 25 2024 – 12Z Sat Jul 27 2024

…Another day of major to locally extreme Heat Risk across the northern
High Plains before cooler air arrives behind a cold front…

…Excessive Rainfall is forecast for the Texas coast through tonight with
more scattered showers and thunderstorms across the southern tier states
to the East Coast…

…Monsoonal thunderstorms continue across the Great Basin and into the
Four Corners region with threats of localized flash flooding while fire
weather danger emerges over the interior Northwest…

A slow-to-evolve summertime weather pattern will continue across much of
the U.S. mainland while a more progressive Pacific cold front sweeps
across the northwestern part of the country through the next couple of
days. Under this weather pattern, unsettled weather and relatively cool
temperatures for July will continue across the South as well as the Great
Lakes. The stronger forcing associated with the Pacific front will push
the heat dome into the northern High Plains today behind a warm front,
resulting in another day of major to locally extreme Heat Risk for the
region. High temperatures will once again reach well up into the 100s with
little to no rainfall expected. Meanwhile, the heat will continue to
become less intense over the Central Valley of California and the Desert
Southwest. Some of the hot air over the northern Plains will be pushed
into the upper Midwest by the weekend with highs reaching into the 80s and
90s. Please continue to practice heat safety before cooler air arrives
behind the cold front.

The Pacific cold front currently making its way through the northern
Rockies into the High Plains will gradually become nearly stationary
through the next couple of days. Lightning associated with dry
thunderstorms triggered by the passage of the cold front will raise fire
danger concerns over the interior northwestern U.S. into the northern High
Plains. Farther south, monsoonal thunderstorms across the Great Basin
today will shift farther eastward into the Four Corners and as far north
as Wyoming through the next couple of days.

In contrast to the heat in the West, cooler than normal temperatures will
prevail across the mid-section of the country and portions of the eastern
U.S. where a stalled front will keep plenty of clouds along with scattered
thunderstorms. It appears that coastal sections of Texas will see the
highest chance of receiving heavy rainfall today into tonight as some
influx of tropical moisture from the Gulf of Mexico could interact with
the weak front under a broad upper-level southwesterly flow ahead of a
trough. A moderate risk of excessive rainfall remains in place from the
mid and upper Texas coast to southwestern Louisiana through tonight.
Thunderstorms across other areas of the southern tier states are not
expected to be severe, but they could result in localized flooding issues
from time to time. The same is true along the East Coast with a slight
risk of excessive rainfall over portions of the Carolinas through Friday
night where storms are expected to be more numerous. Meanwhile, showers
and a few embedded thunderstorms today across New England will clear out
by Friday as a low pressure wave moves away into eastern Canada.

Short Range Forecast Discussion
NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD
Wed Jul 24 2024
Valid 12Z Wed Jul 24 2024 – 12Z Fri Jul 26 2024

…Major to locally extreme Heat Risk will expand across the northern High
Plains as heat gradually becomes less intense over the Central Valley of
California and the Great Basin…

…Scattered showers and thunderstorms will extend across the southern
tier states to the East Coast with heavy rain possible along the Texas
coast today…

…A low pressure wave will bring a round of showers and thunderstorms
across the Great Lakes today and across New England on Thursday…

…Monsoonal thunderstorms continue across the Great Basin and into the
Four Corners region with threats of localized flash flooding while fire
weather danger emerges over the interior Northwest…

A slow-to-evolve summertime weather pattern will continue across much of
the U.S. mainland while a more progressive Pacific cold front sweeps
across the northwestern part of the country through the next couple of
days. Under this weather pattern, unsettled weather and relatively cool
temperatures for July will continue across the eastern half of the country
as the ongoing heat wave over the western U.S. gradually becomes less
intense with the arrival of the Pacific cold front. The stronger forcing
associated with this front will push the heat dome east of the Great
Basin, resulting in the expansion of major to locally extreme Heat Risk
across the northern High Plains through the next couple of days. High
temperatures are forecast to reach well up into the 100s to near 110 at
the hottest location over the northern High Plains through Thursday with
little to no rainfall expected. Meanwhile, the heat will gradually become
less intense over the Central Valley of California and the Great Basin
with time. Please continue to practice heat safety as the heat spreads
into the northern High Plains.

By Thursday night into Friday morning, the cold front will make its way
through the northern Rockies into the High Plains will cooler air arriving
but with very little moisture to work with. Meanwhile, lightning
associated with dry thunderstorms triggered by the passage of the cold
front will result in critical fire danger over the interior northwestern
U.S. In addition, monsoonal thunderstorms will continue across the Great
Basin today and become more numerous over the Four Corners region Thursday
into Friday with the threat of localized flash flooding over the next
couple of days.

In contrast to the heat in the West, cooler than normal temperatures will
prevail across the mid-section of the country to portions of the eastern
U.S. where a stalled front will keep plenty of clouds along with scattered
thunderstorms. These thunderstorms are not expected to be severe but they
could result in localized flooding issues from time to time across the
southern tier states as well as up and down the East Coast. A coastal
front interacting with a broad upper-level southwesterly flow could set
off heavy rain and thunderstorms near the Texas coast into southwestern
Louisiana where flash flooding is possible. Therefore, a slight risk of
flash flooding is posted from southeast Texas into portions of the lower
Mississippi Valley while another is in effect from the interior portions
of the Southeast into the Mid-Atlantic farther up along the stationary
front through the next couple of days.

Farther north, a low pressure wave developing along a cold front dipping
into the northern tier states will bring additional thunderstorms across
the Great Lakes today. By Thursday, the Great Lakes should clear out from
the rain but northern New England will see an increasing chance of showers
and thunderstorms as the low pressure wave approaches from the west.

Short Range Forecast Discussion
NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD
400 AM EDT Tue Jul 23 2024
Valid 12Z Tue Jul 23 2024 – 12Z Thu Jul 25 2024

…Major to locally extreme Heat Risk will expand across the northern High
Plains as heat gradually becomes less intense over the Central Valley of
California and the Great Basin…

…Scattered showers and thunderstorms will affect a large section of the
eastern half of the U.S. with heavy rain emerging near the Texas coast on
Wednesday...

…Monsoonal thunderstorms continue across the Great Basin and into the
Four Corners region with threat of localized flash flooding…

A slow-to-evolve summertime weather pattern will continue across much of
the U.S. mainland as a more progressive Pacific cold front sweeps across
the northwestern part of the country through the next couple of days.
Under this weather pattern, unsettled weather and relatively cool
temperatures for July will continue across the eastern half of the country
as the ongoing heat wave over the western U.S. will gradually become less
intense with the arrival of the Pacific cold front. The stronger forcing
associated with this front will push the heat dome east of the Great
Basin, resulting in the expansion of major to locally extreme Heat Risk
across the northern High Plains through the next couple of days. High
temperatures are forecast to reach well up into the 100s over the northern
High Plains through Thursday with little to no rainfall expected.
Meanwhile, the heat will gradually become less intense over the Central
Valley of California and the Great Basin with time. Please continue to
practice heat safety in the western U.S. and as the heat spreads into the
northern High Plains.

In contrast, cooler than normal temperatures will prevail across the
mid-section of the country and into portions of the eastern U.S. where a
stalled front will keep plenty of clouds along with scattered
thunderstorms. These thunderstorms are not expected to be potent but they
could result in localized flooding issues from time to time across the
southern tier states and up and down the East Coast. A slight risk of
flash flooding is anticipated for areas just inland from the western Gulf
states for today from Texas to central Mississippi. By Wednesday, a
coastal front could set off heavy rain and thunderstorms near the Texas
coast into southwestern Louisiana where flash flooding is possible.
Farther north, another cold front from eastern Canada dipping into the
northern tier states will bring additional thunderstorms across the Great
Lakes to New England through Wednesday. By Thursday morning, the Great
Lakes should clear out from the rain but northern New England will see an
increasing chance of showers and thunderstorms as a low pressure wave
approaches from the west. Meanwhile, monsoonal thunderstorms will
continue across the Great Basin and the Four Corners region with the
threat of localized flash flooding for the next couple of days.

Short Range Forecast Discussion
NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD
Mon Jul 22 2024
Valid 12Z Mon Jul 22 2024 – 12Z Wed Jul 24 2024

…Major to locally extreme Heat Risk expected to expand from the Great
Basin into the northern High Plains by Wednesday as well as over portions
of the Central Valley of California…

….Scattered thunderstorms across the southern Plains to the Southeast
today near a stalled front will gradually shift toward the East Coast as
another front will spread additional thunderstorms across the Great Lakes
to New England Tuesday and Wednesday…

…Monsoonal thunderstorms continue across the Great Basin and into the
Four Corners region with threat of localized flash flooding…

A slow-to-evolve summertime weather pattern continues across the U.S.
mainland as we head into late July. This weather pattern will sustain the
ongoing heat wave across the western U.S. while maintaining cooler than
normal temperatures across the mid-section of the country and into
portions of the East Coast. The prolonged nature of the heat in the West
will keep the Heat Risk at major to locally extreme levels across portions
of the Central Valley of California, and the Great Basin today where
another afternoon of triple digit high temperatures is expected.
Meanwhile, a Pacific cold front will set things in motion a bit as the
front moves inland across the Pacific Northwest through the next couple of
days. Triple-digit high temperatures will then expand eastward into
northern High Plains by Wednesday ahead of the front while 110s will
persist across the Desert Southwest and 100s in the Central Valley of
California. Please continue to practice heat safety in this persistent
and prolonged heat wave in the western U.S.

In contrast, cooler than normal temperatures will prevail across the
mid-section of the country and into portions of the eastern U.S. where a
stalled front will keep plenty of clouds along with scattered
thunderstorms. These thunderstorms are not expected to be potent but they
could result in localized flooding issues from time to time across the
southern tier states. The upper-level pattern and instability that
support these thunderstorms from the southern Plains to the Southeast
today will gradually expand northeastward into the eastern U.S. on Tuesday
and then generally affect areas from across the Deep South into much of
the East Coast by Wednesday. Another cold front from eastern Canada will
dip into the northern tier states, bringing additional thunderstorms
across the Great Lakes to New England Tuesday and Wednesday. Meanwhile,
monsoonal thunderstorms will continue across the Great Basin and the Four
Corners region with the threat of localized flash flooding for the next
couple of days.

Short Range Forecast Discussion
NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD
Sat Jul 20 2024
Valid 12Z Sat Jul 20 2024 – 12Z Mon Jul 22 2024

…A break in the heat continues for much of the eastern two-thirds of the
country but heat will intensify in the interior Pacific Northwest through
this weekend…

…Scattered thunderstorms continue across the South and Southeast as
monsoonal thunderstorms linger across the Four Corners region…

…Scattered thunderstorms over the central Plains today will gradually
shift in the southern Plains by Monday while a cold front will bring new
rounds of thunderstorms across the northern tier states…

A cool air mass settling in across the eastern two-thirds of the country
will offer an extended reprieve from the heat through the next few days.
Afternoon high temperatures will only reach into the 70s and 80s today
from the northern and central Plains eastward through the Atlantic coast
with the exception of the Sunshine State and the coastal plain of Georgia
and South Carolina where highs will remain in the 90s. Texas will have
highs into the 90s to near 100 this afternoon but will cool down into the
70s and 80s by Monday. In contrast, the heat across the western U.S. is
expected to persist, with high temperatures once again exceeding 100
degrees across much of the region. The interior Pacific Northwest will
feel the heat intensify, with afternoon readings possibly reaching 110
degrees at the hottest locations by Sunday afternoon along with little
overnight relief. Daily highs across the Southwest will generally hover
in the 110s. Please continue to practice heat safety in this persistent
and prolonged heat wave in the western U.S. through the next couple of
days. A Pacific cold front will approach the West Coast on Monday,
lowering the heat only slightly for inland sections.

The upper level pattern will be slow to change across the lower 48 through
the next few days. A nearly stationary front will remain draped across the
South and into the Mid-Atlantic region, keeping the cooler air north of
the boundary and the warm, moist air to the south. The front will also
help focusing and triggering scattered thunderstorms from the Gulf Coast
to the Southeast through the next few days. For the Southwest/Four
Corners region, monsoonal moisture will continue to support on-and-off
thunderstorms through the weekend. These storms will keep an elevated
threat for isolated to scattered flash flooding and severe weather, which
may result from the strongest of the storms. Meanwhile, scattered
thunderstorms over the central Plains today will gradually shift into the
southern Plains by Monday as a weak low pressure wave slowly digs
southward. Across the northern tier states, a cold front arriving from
central Canada will bring new rounds of thunderstorms from the northern
Plains through northern New England during the next couple of days.

Short Range Forecast Discussion
NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD
Fri Jul 19 2024
Valid 12Z Fri Jul 19 2024 – 12Z Sun Jul 21 2024

…A break in the heat is expected for much of the eastern two-thirds of
the country but triple-digit heat will continue in the West through this
weekend…

…Scattered thunderstorms will be confined across the South and Southeast
as monsoonal thunderstorms linger across the Four Corners region…

…Strong to severe thunderstorms possible today over the north-central
Plains…

A cool air mass arriving from central Canada is bringing a welcome relief
to the heat and humidity into the northeastern quadrant of the country
today. Temperatures as high as the 100s a couple of days ago in the
Mid-Atlantic will only recover to around 90 degrees this afternoon with
lower humidity. On the other hand, the heat across the western U.S. is
expected to persist through this weekend, with high temperatures once
again exceeding 100 degrees across much of the region. In fact, the heat
is forecast to intensify over the interior Pacific Northwest, with
readings possibly reaching 110 degrees at the hottest locations by Sunday
afternoon along with little overnight relief. Meanwhile, high
temperatures well into the 110s will be common across the Desert
Southwest. Please continue to practice heat safety in this persistent and
prolonged heat wave in the western U.S. throughout this coming weekend.

The upper-level pattern that supports the heat the West and the cooler
weather across the central to eastern U.S. will be slow to evolve through
the next few days. A front that separates the cool air from the warm and
moist air along the Gulf Coast will remain stationary across the South.
Scattered thunderstorms will be confined in the warm sector across the
South and Southeast where they will linger through the weekend.
Meanwhile, monsoonal moisture will support thunderstorms across the Four
Corners region, lingering on-and-off through the weekend. Isolated to
scattered flash flooding and severe weather may result from the strongest
storms. Farther north, a weak low pressure wave will likely trigger
thunderstorms which could become strong to severe over the north-central
Plains today into tonight. Additional thunderstorms are expected to track
farther east toward Iowa and Missouri during the weekend.