Short Range Forecast Discussion NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD 229 AM EDT Fri Jul 22 2016 Valid 12Z Fri Jul 22 2016 - 12Z Sun Jul 24 2016 ...Dangerously hot temperatures expected across portions of the central U.S... ...Severe thunderstorms possible across portions of the northern plains, Upper Midwest, and Northeast... ...Heavy rain possible today across portions of the northern plains... A large and expansive area of high pressure at the mid and upper-levels of the atmosphere will persist across much of the southwestern U.S. as well as the central and southern plains today. This high pressure will result in afternoon high temperatures ranging from 5 to 15 degrees above average today across much of the central U.S., particularly the central/northern plains and Midwest. Temperatures will approach or surpass 100 degrees over a large area. These temperatures will combine with a very humid air mass to result in dangerous heat indices well over 100 degrees and even as high as 115 degrees for some areas. The hot temperatures will continue across the central U.S. while expanding east for the weekend, with temperatures in the mid 90s expected for the Mid-Atlantic on Saturday and Sunday. A relatively weak cold front will cross the Northeast today, bringing scattered showers and thunderstorms. Some severe thunderstorms are possible. Please refer to products issued by the Storm Prediction Center for further details on the severe weather threat. Farther west, a stationary front along with an approaching frontal system from the northern Rockies today will result in scattered showers and thunderstorms across the northern plains, some of which could become severe as well. By Saturday this frontal system will reach the Upper Midwest, with scattered to numerous showers and storms expected, some of which could again be severe. In addition to the severe weather threat, heavy rain will be possible across the northern plains today and across the Midwest on Saturday. Farther south, isolated to scattered showers and thunderstorms are possible across the Four Corners region today into the weekend, primarily across the higher terrain. Scattered thunderstorms afternoon and evening thunderstorms are also possible through the weekend across the Southeast. Ryan Graphics available at www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/basicwx/basicwx_wbg.php