Short Range Forecast Discussion NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD 316 PM EDT Mon Jul 18 2016 Valid 00Z Tue Jul 19 2016 - 00Z Thu Jul 21 2016 ...Widespread heat and humidity building over the central and eastern U.S. through midweek... A weak cold front crossing the Ohio Valley and the Northeast U.S. will have a broken line of showers and thunderstorms ahead of it through Monday evening. Strong to severe thunderstorms are expected to develop ahead of the front with a hot and humid airmass across the Mid-Atlantic region and extending into New England. This front is expected to gradually stall over the Carolinas with slightly cooler weather and less humidity from the Great Lakes to the Mid-Atlantic through Wednesday. Widespread heat and humidity is forecast to build across much of the central U.S. over the next few days as a strong upper level ridge causes subsidence and warming aloft. Many areas already have heat advisories in effect, and other areas have excessive heat watches for the upcoming heat wave. Highs well into the 90s and low 100s, along with high dewpoints, will make it feel about 10 degrees warmer than the actual temperature. This heat wave is forecast to expand eastward later in the week. Hamrick Graphics available at www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/basicwx/basicwx_wbg.php