Short Range Forecast Discussion NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD 450 PM EDT Fri Jun 19 2015 Valid 00Z Sat Jun 20 2015 - 00Z Mon Jun 22 2015 ***Tropical Depression Bill brings widespread rain*** ***Severe thunderstorms expected over the north-central U.S.*** ***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 track eastward across the Ohio Valley and is forecast to become a remnant low (a post-tropical cyclone) by Saturday. It is still expected to produce significant amounts of rain along its track from its current location to the Mid-Atlantic by Saturday night, with a few inches of rainfall possible. Flash flooding is also possible, especially where convection becomes persistent and trains over the same area. Flood watches are in effect from eastern Missouri to New Jersey in anticipation of the heavy rain. The WPC tropical cyclone advisories contain more specifics regarding this system. 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 thunderstorms to develop, and some of these storms are expected to become severe. Additional severe weather is likely over Iowa and Illinois on Saturday. 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 weekend. 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 stubborn 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. D. Hamrick Graphics available at www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/basicwx/basicwx_wbg.php