Short Range Forecast Discussion NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD 400 AM EDT Tue Sep 27 2022 Valid 12Z Tue Sep 27 2022 - 12Z Thu Sep 29 2022 ...Major Hurricane Ian is forecast to make landfall on the west coast of Florida late Wednesday/ear Thursday; slow forward motion of Ian will likely prolong impacts from high winds, heavy rain, and flooding even for areas further inland... ...Heavy rain expected downwind of the lower Great Lakes today, gradual tapering off on Wednesday... ...Cool and unsettled weather expected to persist across the Northeast and Great Lakes through at least mid-week... ...Well above average temperatures across much of the West, with excessive heat continuing over parts of southern California, followed by arrival of rain and cooler temperatures over the Pacific Northwest later on Wednesday... All eyes are now on Hurricane Ian as it took center stage after intensifying to major hurricane intensity just before making landfall over western Cuba early this morning. The outer rainbands are now streaming across the Keys and into southern Florida. Ian is forecast to move generally northward through tonight passing to the west of the Key before turning gradually toward the north-northeast on Wednesday. Heavy rain, high winds, and severe weather will be increasing as the storm approaches the west coast of Florida late on Wednesday. The storm is forecast to slow down as it begins to interact with a stationary front settling across northern Florida, prolonging the threat of heavy rain. There is a Moderate Risk of Excessive Rainfall on Tuesday for coastal portions of the southern Florida Peninsula and for the northern half of the Peninsula on Wednesday as heavy rainfall from the storm, on top of already wet antecedent conditions, may lead to scattered to widespread instances of flooding. The Storm Prediction Center has also highlighted the same regions with Slight Risks for the threat of tornadoes. Winds are also expected to increase as Ian approaches, with tropical storm force winds currently forecast to reach southern portions of the Peninsula on Tuesday. Meanwhile, an amplifying upper-level trough is forecast to continue bringing cool and unsettled weather from the Great Lakes to the Northeast through mid-week. The strength of the upper trough will be maintained by reinforcing surges of cooler air diving across central Canada. This pattern will favor damp, dreary weather to persist into Wednesday. There is a Slight Risk of Excessive Rainfall along Lake Erie and a Marginal Risk along Lake Ontario on Tuesday as cold air aloft flowing across the warm waters of the Great Lakes will destabilize the atmosphere and could lead to heavy lake-effect rain. In addition to the threat for heavy rain, temperatures will remain unseasonably cool across the Midwest and Northeast and spread into the Southeast Wednesday. Most of the Upper Midwest, Great Lakes, and interior Northeast will see highs in the upper-50s and low-60s, with some locations in the Upper Great Lakes only reaching the upper 40s Tuesday. There are Frost Advisories in effect for portions of the Upper Mississippi Valley Tuesday morning as lows will bottom out in the mid-30s. Southern portions of the Midwest as well as the coastal Northeast will see highs in the mid-60s to low 70s. Temperatures across the Southeast will cool from the upper 70s and low 80s on Tuesday to the mid-70s Wednesday. In contrast to the eastern half of the country, Summer-like, well above normal temperatures are forecast to remain over much of the West as a strong upper-level ridge passes over the region. The hottest weather is expected over the Southwest and southern California with highs in the mid-100s for the interior deserts and in the 90s for all but coastal portions of Southern California. Excessive Heat Warnings and Heat Advisories remain in effect for the Greater Los Angeles/San Diego regions as well as adjacent portions of the Sonoran Desert. Elsewhere, well above normal temperatures will stretch from the Intermountain West to the northern Rockies and northern High Plains. Highs on Tuesday and Wednesday are forecast to soar into the upper 80s and low 90s. Kong Graphics are available at https://www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/basicwx/basicwx_ndfd.php