Short Range Forecast Discussion NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD 404 PM EDT Tue Jul 31 2018 Valid 00Z Wed Aug 01 2018 - 00Z Fri Aug 03 2018 ...Showers and thunderstorms will continue across the eastern U.S.... ...Excessive heat continues across the Pacific Northwest... A cold front will become stalled from the Gulf Coast northeast into New England through the the majority of the work week. This will interact with an upper level trough which will also be parked across the same area, and promote instability as well as deep moisture across much of the eastern U.S., aided by expansive southerly flow on the western side of the Bermuda High over the Atlantic Ocean. Sensible weather will feature warm and humid conditions along the frontal zone and points eastward, with daily chances for rain and thunderstorms. Episodes of heavy rain are also expected in this type of pattern, with the Weather Prediction Center highlighting a slight chance of excessive rainfall and flash flooding across portions of the Deep South and central Appalachians today, extending into the northern Appalachians for Wednesday and Thursday. The Storm Prediction Center has also issued a slight risk of severe thunderstorms for portions of the Mid Atlantic and Northeast for Wednesday. Persistent upper level ridging across the western U.S. will lead to mainly dry conditions for the Pacific Northwest and much of the Intermountain West. Temperatures are expected to be above normal for much of this region, with heat advisories and excessive heat warnings in effect across parts of Oregon, Washington, and Idaho. Poor air quality will also be an issue for portions of the west coast, as well as portions of the Southwest and Southern Plains, especially near any active wildfires. For the southwestern U.S., monsoonal moisture is expected to remain across much of Arizona and New Mexico with scattered thunderstorms developing mainly during the afternoon and evening hours. D. Hamrick/Wix Graphics available at www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/basicwx/basicwx_ndfd.php