Short Range Forecast Discussion NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD 352 AM EDT Fri Jun 26 2020 Valid 12Z Fri Jun 26 2020 - 12Z Sun Jun 28 2020 ...Severe weather and flash flooding are possible from the Central Plains to the Great Lakes today, reaching the northern Mid-Atlantic Saturday... ...Saharan dust should persist across the Gulf Coast states into the Tennessee Valley through the rest of the week... ...Very hot conditions continue across Florida and interior valleys of California... ...Favorable fire weather conditions are expected over portions of the West... As moisture flows into the vicinity of a frontal system moving across the Plains to Midwest, thunderstorms are expected today across those regions. The Storm Prediction Center has outlined an Enhanced Risk of severe weather over portions of the Midwest, with a broader Slight Risk back into the Plains. Flash flooding is also forecast, and a Slight Risk of excessive rainfall is also in place for much the same area from the Central Plains to the Great Lakes region. Farther south, some locally heavy rainfall totals of 1 to 3 inches are possible in South Texas, which could lead to flash flooding there today as well. The northern part of the front should shift eastward Saturday but stall over the Midwest. Thus, the main focus for severe weather on Saturday should be across the northern Mid-Atlantic region into southern parts of the Northeast, while some lower risk of strong thunderstorms as well as a couple of Slight Risks of flash flooding are forecast back toward the Mississippi and Ohio Valleys. Surface high pressure is expected over the Southeast, influenced by the western edge of the Bermuda High. This flow pattern will lead to continued inflow of Saharan dust into the southeastern part of the country through the weekend. The main impacts of the Saharan dust will be hazy skies during the day, locally reduced visibility, and degraded air quality. However, this could also make for some very colorful sunrises and sunsets with deeper oranges and reds compared to normal. Additionally, temperatures over Florida should be hotter than normal, and could even set records with highs in the upper 90s. Heat is also forecast across the West today, with highs 10 to 15 degrees above normal from northern California into Washington and Oregon. Heat Advisories are in effect for the interior valleys of California and for southwestern Oregon. Cooler temperatures are expected in the Pacific Northwest Saturday before a dramatic cooldown Sunday as a potent upper-level trough moves in. At the surface, showers and thunderstorms could form along a cold front in the Northwest on Saturday, but rain totals will ramp up even more early next week. Farther south, conditions are forecast to be favorable for fire weather, with gusty winds, low humidity, and the potential for dry thunderstorms. The Storm Prediction Center has Elevated to Critical Risks of fire weather in place over portions of the Central Great Basin to the Southwest. Tate Graphics available at www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/basicwx/basicwx_ndfd.php