Short Range Forecast Discussion NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD 318 PM EDT Wed Aug 01 2018 Valid 00Z Thu Aug 02 2018 - 00Z Sat Aug 04 2018 ...Unsettled weather pattern continues across the eastern U.S.... ...The heat wave is gradually abating across the West, though Fire Weather Concerns remain... Unsettled weather will continue to be the case for much of the eastern U.S. through the end of the workweek, owing to a stalled out frontal boundary extending from Texas to the Lower Great Lakes, coupled with a large scale upper level trough extending from the Great Lakes to the Mid South. The response to this in the low levels will be deep moisture surging northward over the eastern U.S., aided by southerly flow on the western edge of the Bermuda high. It will be warm and quite humid, with daily chances for rain from the Gulf Coast to New England. Episodes of heavy rain are expected to materialize in this type of weather pattern, leading to the potential for flash flooding. The Weather Prediction Center has outlined the Florida panhandle as being in a moderate risk for excessive rainfall and flash flooding through tonight, while the southern Appalachians will see a moderate risk during the day on Thursday. Furthermore, a marginal to slight risk of excessive rainfall and flash flooding has been outlined from the Florida panhandle northward through the Appalachians and into the Northeast for the remainder of the work week. In addition to the rainfall concerns, the unstable atmosphere could lead to strong to severe thunderstorms. The Storm Prediction Center has outlined portions of Georgia and South Carolina, and well as portions of the upper Mid-Atlantic as being in a slight risk for seeing severe thunderstorms this afternoon and into the overnight. 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 remain above normal for much of this region through today, but will begin improving for Thursday. However, the continued combination of winds and dry air has led to Red Flag Warnings across portions of the Intermountain West, the Northern Rockies, and much of Montana through at least Thursday. Poor air quality will also be an issue for some of these areas, as well as across portions of the the western and southwestern U.S., and into the Southern Plains, especially near any active wildfires. D. Hamrick/Wix Graphics available at www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/basicwx/basicwx_ndfd.php