Extended Forecast Discussion
NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD
235 PM EDT Sat Jul 10 2021
Valid 12Z Tue Jul 13 2021 - 12Z Sat Jul 17 2021
...Western Heat Persists into Next Week...
...Ongoing Midwest Heavy Rainfall Threat to Refire Midweek...
...Pattern Overview with Weather Highlights/Hazards...
Another significant heat wave now underway over the West under
upper ridging will continue from the Great Basin to CA and the
Southwest into early-mid next week with temperatures 10-15F above
normal. Several daily temperature records are likely into
Tuesday/Wednesday. Guidance consensus is leading to gradually
lowering heights with a developing modest northwest US trough,
with the highest heights shifting south into southern CA/AZ. There
is potential for rebuilding heights over the Northwest as a closed
low develops off the west coast of Canada next Fri-Sat 17 July.
Above normal temperatures are expected across much of the Great
Basin and northern Rockies/High Plains next Fri 16 July- Sat 17
July. Lingering upper ridging over the western Atlantic and into
the Southeast may also support above normal temperatures next week
from the Mid-Atlantic to the lower Great Lakes and into the
Northeast. This includes the Washington, DC to Baltimore,
Philadelphia, and New York City corridor.
The forecast does indicate potential for temperature moderating
showers/thunderstorms over Arizona/Southern Rockies next week with
pockets of enhanced 700 mb relative humidity in place to support
diurnal activity with instability peaking each afternoon/evening.
However, this could also lead to additional local downpour and
terrain enhancing runoff issues.
There is a persistent signal for a multi-day stretch of episodes
of heavy rainfall now in progress over the Midwest, with renewed
episodes expected Wednesday-Friday as instability and upwards of
1.75" precipitable water values pool ahead of a wavy front. The
models have renewed rainfall maxima gradually shifting from the
Upper Midwest by midweek to adjacent portions of the Mid-MS/OH
Valleys late week with slow frontal progression. This offers
excessive rainfall and resultant flooding threats.
...Guidance/Predictability Evaluation...
Model and ensemble forecast spread and uncertainty remains below
normal next week with exception of shortwaves progressing through
a mean Midwest trough and with late period eastern Pacific system
specifics. The WPC medium range product suite was primarily
derived from a blend of best clustered guidance from the 06 UTC
GFS/GEFS, 00 UTC ECMWF/UKMET and ECMWF ensembles along with the 13
UTC National Blend of Models. The composite maintains good WPC
continuity and acts to mitigate smaller scale guidance differences
consistent with predictability. The latest 12 UTC guidance
composite also remains consistent.
Petersen/Schichtel
Additional 3-7 Day Hazard information can be found on the WPC
medium range hazards outlook chart at:
https://www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/threats/threats.php
WPC medium range 500mb heights, surface systems, weather grids,
quantitative precipitation, winter weather outlook probabilities
and heat indices are at:
https://www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/medr/5dayfcst500_wbg.gif
https://www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/medr/5dayfcst_wbg_conus.gif
https://www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/5km_grids/5km_gridsbody.html
https://www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/qpf/day4-7.shtml
https://www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/wwd/pwpf_d47/pwpf_medr.php?day=4
https://www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/heat_index.shtml
Hazards:
- Heavy rain across portions of the Lower Mississippi Valley and
Tennessee Valley, Mon, Jul 12.
- Heavy rain across portions of the Middle Missouri Valley and the
Middle and Upper Mississippi Valley, Wed, Jul 14.
- Heavy rain across portions of the Central Plains, Middle
Mississippi Valley, Ohio Valley, and Great Lakes, Thu-Fri, Jul
15-Jul 16.
- Flooding possible across portions of the Northeast, the Middle
Mississippi Valley, the Mid-Atlantic, the Upper Mississippi
Valley, the Southeast, the Great Lakes, and the Ohio Valley.
- Flooding occurring or imminent across portions of the Southeast,
the Middle Mississippi Valley, and the Southern Plains.
- Flooding likely across portions of the Southeast and the
Southern Plains.
- Excessive heat across portions of California, the Southwest, the
Central and Southern Great Basin, and the Central Rockies,
Mon-Tue, Jul 12-Jul 13.
- Excessive heat across portions of the Interior Pacific
Northwest, Mon-Wed, Jul 12-Jul 14.
- Excessive heat across portions of the Central and Northern Great
Basin, Mon-Fri, Jul 12-Jul 16.
- Much above normal temperatures across portions of the Northern
High Plains, Thu-Fri, Jul 15-Jul 16.