Short Range Forecast Discussion NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD 348 PM EDT Sun Aug 26 2018 Valid 00Z Mon Aug 27 2018 - 00Z Wed Aug 29 2018 ...Heavy rain expected for the north-central U.S. and building heat across the eastern states... An upper level trough is expected across the northwestern U.S. and the Dakotas through the beginning of the week and an upper level ridge building across the eastern third of the nation. An active frontal zone will exist from the central plains to the Great Lakes region with multiple low pressure centers expected to develop along the boundary. The main consequence of this will manifest as heavy rainfall extending from Minnesota to Michigan through Tuesday afternoon, and the Weather Prediction Center has depicted a slight risk of excessive rainfall for portions of this region. There is also a threat of some severe storms over this same general region per the latest convective outlook from the Storm Prediction Center. Increasing heat and humidity will be making weather headlines for the beginning of the week as the upper level ridge and Bermuda high govern the pattern. Numerous areas will likely achieve high temperatures well into the 90s with the potential for some record highs to be established. Heat advisories are likely for many areas of the East Coast before relief arrives later in the week. Elsewhere across the nation, smoke from the numerous wildfires across the northwest U.S. will continue to ruin the air quality and therefore air quality alerts are currently in effect for many areas, including parts of central California. Locally reduced visibilities and very hazy conditions are expected, especially downwind of any major wildfires. A drier weather pattern is expected for the Desert Southwest and southern Rockies starting Monday as the monsoon abates over this region. D. Hamrick Graphics available at www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/basicwx/basicwx_ndfd.php