Short Range Forecast Discussion NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD 404 PM EDT Thu Jun 18 2015 Valid 00Z Fri Jun 19 2015 - 00Z Sun Jun 21 2015 ***Tropical depression Bill brings widespread rain as it weakens*** ***Severe thunderstorms expected over the north-central U.S. on Friday*** ***Very hot for both the Desert Southwest and the Southeast U.S.*** After making landfall in Texas on Tuesday, Tropical Depression Bill is continuing to weaken and is forecast to become a remnant low (a post-tropical cyclone) tonight as it tracks across Missouri. It is still expected to produce significant amounts of rain along its track from its current location to along the Ohio River by Saturday, with widespread rainfall totals in the three to six inch range. Flash flooding is possible, especially where convection becomes persistent and trains over the same area. The moisture from this system will likely interact with a frontal boundary to its north and allow for additional areas of heavy rain. The WPC tropical cyclone advisories have additional information concerning Tropical Depression Bill. For the northern Plains and Upper Midwest, a cold front dropping southward out of Canada is expected to clash with a very warm and humid environment. There will be enough wind shear and instability to allow for numerous thunderstorms to develop, and some of these storms are expected to become severe, especially on Friday. The Storm Prediction Center has additional information on this. In the temperature department, there are two noteworthy areas of excessive heat across the country through the end of the week. The first area is the Desert Southwest, where widespread 100+ degree temperatures are forecast from eastern California and extending into Arizona, Nevada, and Utah. The lower elevations of California and Arizona are expected to surpass 110 degrees, and excessive heat warnings are currently in effect. The other area is the Southeast U.S., where a persistent upper level ridge remains anchored over the region. Widespread highs from the mid 90s to low 100s are expected from northern Florida to North Carolina, and heat advisories are in effect for many of those areas. Hamrick Graphics available at www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/basicwx/basicwx_wbg.php