Short Range Forecast Discussion NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD 358 AM EDT Sat Jul 07 2018 Valid 12Z Sat Jul 07 2018 - 12Z Mon Jul 09 2018 ...Cooler temperatures and drier weather on the way for much of the Eastern U.S... ...Hot and dry weather to continue for the Desert Southwest... ...Developing monsoon pattern will bring showers and thunderstorms to the Four Corners region... ...Developing tropical system offshore the Carolinas... Scattered to widespread showers and thunderstorms are expected across the South, Southeast and Mid-Atlantic regions as a cold front drops south and then stalls this weekend. Locally heavy rainfall and at least an isolated threat of flash flooding will be possible. Behind the front, cool high pressure will spread across the Great Lakes, Ohio Valley and the Northeast which will also filter south down across the Mid-Atlantic region. Much drier conditions will be noted and temperatures will be near to slightly below normal. Offshore of the Carolinas Tropical Depression Three is forecast from the National Hurricane Center to strengthen to a tropical storm by Saturday evening, yet its movement looks to be very slow at this time. This will also keep the chances for rain across the Mid-Atlantic into early next week. Please refer to the NHC webpage for specific information about the tropical system. Meanwhile, a cold front will be ejecting out across the northern High Plains and gradually the upper Midwest through the weekend, which will allow for a resurgence of hot temperatures across these areas. In fact, temperatures will locally be approaching 100 degrees on Saturday across the Dakotas. The front as it arrives though will be a focus for at least scattered showers and thunderstorms. Some of the heaviest rainfall with the front should tend to focus over areas of eastern North Dakota and northern Minnesota and some localized flash flooding will be possible here. Hot and dry conditions will persist across much of the Desert Southwest as the mid and upper-level ridging remains in place. Many locations will have afternoon highs of 110 to 115 degrees, which could easily set or break daily records. A developing monsoonal pattern will bring an increase of showers and thunderstorms to the Four Corners region through the weekend and into early next week. Campbell Graphics available at www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/basicwx/basicwx_ndfd.php