Short Range Forecast Discussion NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD 430 PM EDT Wed Jul 29 2015 Valid 00Z Thu Jul 30 2015 - 00Z Sat Aug 01 2015 ...Hot and humid weather to continue over areas of the southern U.S... ...Flash flooding possible over areas of New Mexico and the Texas/Oklahoma panhandles through Thursday morning... ...Above normal temperatures to prevail across the western U.S... The upper pattern across the country will feature a broad ridge extending from the Southern Plains toward the Deep South. To the north, a high amplitude and progressive jet structure will help carve a trough over eastern Canada toward the end of the week. As the trough makes its way to the east, the ridge will strengthen and expand over much of the western states. This setup will allow temperatures to climb above seasonal averages for numerous areas, especially for California and Oregon. The southern states will continue to have hot and humid conditions through the end of the week. A vast area, spanning from the Southern Plains to the Mid/Deep South, have heat advisories and excessive heat warnings in effect. Heat indices may exceed 105 degrees in some of the previously mentioned areas. Portions of the Desert Southwest and the Four Corners region will remain in an active wet pattern as a series of mid-level disturbances move through. Sufficient moisture and diurnal heating will support thunderstorm development over the next few days. Conditions will be favorable for heavy rainfall near the panhandles of Oklahoma and Texas, as well as, northeast New Mexico with some of these storms. Flash flooding will be of concern for this area through Thursday morning. A well-pronounced cold front will track through the eastern third of the U.S. While the boundary should weaken in time as the better upper support lifts into Canada, expect showers and thunderstorms to accompany as the front passes. Widespread showers and thunderstorms are expected for areas near the Gulf Coast. Periods of moderate-to-heavy rainfall are also expected along the northern sector of the cold front. This includes portions of the Canadian Prairies, Great Lakes region and Ohio Valley. WPC is currently highlighting a broad area of 1 to 2 inches of precipitation over this area through Friday morning. Campbell/Rubin-Oster Graphics available at www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/basicwx/basicwx_wbg.php