Short Range Forecast Discussion NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD 403 PM EDT Wed Aug 22 2018 Valid 00Z Thu Aug 23 2018 - 00Z Sat Aug 25 2018 ...Localized heavy rain and flash flooding will remain a concern for the Desert Southwest... ...Hurricane Lane forecast to track close to the Hawaiian Islands... ...Heavy rainfall to impact the Mississippi Valley and western Great Lakes... ...Critical fire weather conditions for today in the West along with air quality concerns... Prolonged heavy rainfall, rough seas and high winds will impact the Hawaiian Islands as Hurricane Lane tracks toward the state. For specific information on the impacts and track of the this system refer to the Central Pacific Hurricane Center web page www.prh.noaa.gov/cphc/. Smoke from active wildfires continue to impact a vast majority of the Pacific North. Much of Washington, Oregon and Idaho continue to have Air Quality Alerts in effect. However, with a cold front approaching the region, air quality should begin to improve especially in valley were it had become trapped. Coastal areas may see some light precipitation ahead of the front tonight and into Thursday. Further south, monsoonal moisture returning to the Southwest will increase the possibility for heavy rainfall across much of the Southwest and the Great Basin. Flash flood watches are in effect for sections of the Four Corners region as some of these storms have the capability of producing flash flooding, particularly in favorable terrain and urban areas. Widespread showers and thunderstorms will spread across the north-central states as a low pressure system lifts through the Southern/Central Plains into the Mississippi Valley and Great Lakes region. Conditions favoring the development of strong to severe thunderstorms will be present with this system for the Central/Northern Plains and Midwest. Additionally,an axis of higher rainfall may focus along and near front by Friday night from eastern Iowa to southeast Minnesota which will elevate the risk for flash flooding. Campbell Graphics available at www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/basicwx/basicwx_ndfd.php