Short Range Forecast Discussion NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD 347 PM EDT Sat Aug 04 2018 Valid 00Z Sun Aug 05 2018 - 00Z Tue Aug 07 2018 ...Showers and thunderstorms continuing across portions of New England this evening... ...Unsettled weather expected across the North-Central U.S. for the rest of this weekend and into the first part of the work-week.... ...Fire weather concerns continue across the western U.S. through this evening... ...Excessive heat to return to the Southwest... After a very rainy few days across the eastern coast, things are finally starting the dry out. The caveat to this is New England, which has seen numerous rounds of showers and thunderstorms this morning and into the afternoon. This led the The Weather Prediction Center to outlined this region as being in a slight risk for excessive rainfall and flash flooding through tonight, as any additional afternoon/evening storms could add onto already saturated conditions and result in flash flooding concerns. The Storm Prediction Center has also outlined a marginal risk for severe thunderstorms along coastal regions of the Northeast through tonight as well. A series of low pressure systems are currently evolving across the Northern Plains, Upper Mississippi Valley, and south-central Canada. These disturbances will lead to showers and thunderstorms across the region, with enough instability and heavy rain potential to pause some concern for severe weather and flash flooding, mainly across the Upper Mississippi Valley.The Storm Prediction Center has outlined much of this region in a marginal risk for severe thunderstorm development through the end of the weekend, however portions of Minnesota are outlined in a slight risk during this time. The Weather Prediction Center has also outlined a marginal risk of excessive rainfall and potential flash flooding across portions of the Upper Mississippi Valley today, increasing to a slight risk across Northeast Nebraska, far southeast South Dakota, far southern Minnesota, and northern Iowa for Sunday. The threat for severe weather and excessive rainfall will shift eastward towards the Upper Great Lakes region by Monday. Meanwhile, very dry and windy conditions over the western U.S. have continued the fire weather concerns through today, with portions of the Pacific Northwest, the Central Great Basin, the Central Rockies and California still in Red Flag Warnings through this evening. Even with thunderstorms in the forecast for a portion of these areas this afternoon/evening, conditions are so dry that any lightning could spark new wildfires. Air Quality Alerts also remain in effect for portions of the western and southwestern U.S. as ongoing wildfires continue to infuse copious amounts of smoke into the air. As a strong ridge builds back across the Southwest over the coming days, expect the excessive heat to make a return. Excessive Heat Watches are in effect across large portions of the Southwest and southern California for Sunday through Wednesday as temperatures are expected to climb to well over 100 degrees. Campbell Graphics available at www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/basicwx/basicwx_ndfd.php