Short Range Forecast Discussion NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD 352 AM EDT Sat Aug 27 2016 Valid 12Z Sat Aug 27 2016 - 12Z Mon Aug 29 2016 ...Showers and thunderstorms expected across the central Plains and Midwest... ...Hot and humid conditions continue across much of the southern and eastern states... ...Warm and dry for the West Coast states... The short-range forecast period will be featured with a progressive flow pattern across the northern tier of the U.S. and across southern Canada, and a slowly weakening upper level ridge over the central and eastern U.S. that remains anchored in place through the weekend. On Saturday, a shortwave disturbance aloft is forecast to track eastward from Montana to Minnesota before lifting northward over Canada, and this will be the main weather maker across the nation's mid-section over the weekend. Multiple rounds of shower and thunderstorm activity are likely from Oklahoma to the northern Great Lakes through Saturday night as a warm front lifts northward ahead of the shortwave disturbance. The potential exists for 1 to 2 inches of rainfall, with the greatest amounts likely across northern Oklahoma and eastern Kansas. A few severe storms will also be possible. Additional storminess is expected across the central Gulf Coast and the Florida, especially during the afternoons and evenings. Towards the end of the short-range period on Monday morning, a cold front is expected to sink southward over the northern Plains and bring cooler weather to the region. In the temperature department, expect the late-summer heat and humidity to continue across much of the central and eastern U.S. through the weekend, with widespread highs in the upper 80s to mid 90s, and lows in the 70s. Some locations may get close to heat advisory criteria at times, but not as intense as the heat was earlier this month. Out west, it should remain dry and warm, with no appreciable chance of rainfall for Washington, Oregon, and California. Some diurnal showers and thunderstorms will continue to be possible across the four-corners region. Hamrick Graphics available at www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/basicwx/basicwx_wbg.php