Short Range Forecast Discussion NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD 339 PM EDT Sat Jul 06 2019 Valid 00Z Sun Jul 07 2019 - 00Z Tue Jul 09 2019 ...Record heat with smokey conditions to continue across portions of southern Alaska through Monday... ...Heavy rainfall and severe weather risk for portions of the High Plains and Ohio Valley and Northeast Saturday... A strong ridge of high pressure over Alaska maximizes in strength on Saturday before weakening and shifting westward Sunday and Monday. A dry northerly flow near and to its east is expected to foster a continuation of dry conditions and record high temperatures, with all-time records within reach, for southern Alaska into Monday as temperatures soar into the 80s and 90s. Wildfires across southern portions of the state combined with the strong high and very warm temperatures are expected to lead to periods of low air quality as well. Across the continuous U.S., moisture pooled along the high terrain and a stalled frontal boundary is expected to fuel showers and thunderstorms this afternoon and evening across portions of the central High Plains. Some of these storms are expected to become strong to severe - producing large hail, damaging winds and heavy to excessive rainfall amounts. Farther west, a series of weak upper level disturbances ejecting east out ahead of an upper level low centered over southern British Columbia will help push a weak cold front east of the northern Rockies into the High Plains on Sunday. Storms developing along the front may become severe, particularly across portions of eastern Montana on Sunday. Severe weather, including heavy rainfall, is also a concern across portions of the Northeast into the Ohio valley through Saturday evening. Very moist and unstable air ahead of a cold front will support shower and thunderstorm development as the front settles south across the region this evening. As the front sinks farther south, cooler and drier weather is forecast for the Great Lakes and Northeast on Sunday. However, additional rounds of showers and thunderstorms can be expected to the south across the Mid Atlantic, as well as the Ohio and Tennessee valleys through the remainder of the weekend. Along the Gulf coast into the southern Plains, humid conditions with seasonal to above normal temperatures are forecast to continue, with spotty record warm low temperatures possible Sunday and Monday. Roth/Pereira Graphics available at www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/basicwx/basicwx_ndfd.php