Short Range Forecast Discussion NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD 408 PM EDT Fri Jul 13 2018 Valid 00Z Sat Jul 14 2018 - 00Z Mon Jul 16 2018 ...Heavy rain possible across portions of the central Plains into the upper Mississippi Valley... ...Showers and thunderstorms expected across the Southeast... ...Heavy rain possible over the Desert Southwest and into the Rockies... ...Excessive heat expected for the Pacific Northwest and northern California... A slow moving front will stretch from the Great Lakes to the Plains will be the focal point for showers and thunderstorms over the next few days. Ample moisture from the Gulf of Mexico will be transported to this area and fuel convective activity particularly in the afternoon and evening through the weekend. There is a slight risk of flash flooding from the Upper Midwest to the central Plains through Saturday morning. Additionally, a slight risk of severe thunderstorms is also possible. By Saturday, the risk of flash flooding and severe thunderstorms decreases; however, there will still be a marginal risk of flash flooding in the middle Mississippi Valley and Ohio Valley. A quasi-stationary front will continue to be draped along the Carolinas through the weekend. With plenty of moisture on tap and instability from daytime heating, showers and thunderstorms will increase throughout the day across the Southeast with the front aiding in fueling these thunderstorms. A marginal risk of flash flooding will be possible through Sunday. Scattered thunderstorms that have loomed over the Desert Southwest each afternoon the last few days is expected to continue this weekend. Monsoonal moisture and daytime heating will lead to convection in the afternoon and evening. By Sunday, this activity will persist across the Southwest and will also increase across the southern and central Rockies. Localized flash flooding will be a concern due to terrain and especially in flood prone areas. Parts of the Pacific Northwest and northern California can expect high temperatures in the upper 90s and over 100 over the next few days. With the hot and dry conditions in place, fire weather will be a concern especially today and Saturday. Red flag warnings are in place over parts of these regions along with heat advisories and excessive heat watches/warnings. Reinhart Graphics available at www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/basicwx/basicwx_ndfd.php