Short Range Forecast Discussion NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD 256 PM EDT Wed Jul 15 2020 Valid 00Z Thu Jul 16 2020 - 00Z Sat Jul 18 2020 ...Strong to severe thunderstorms and heavy rainfall across the Southern High Plains to parts of the Middle Mississippi Valley and Western Ohio Valley... ...The heat will gradually moderate across the South but will be on the increase for the Eastern U.S. and for the Northern High Plains.. A wavy cold front moving across the central portion of the country will be the main focus for strong to severe thunderstorms and areas of heavy rainfall through the next couple of days. The main areas to watch will be across the Southern High Plains, Middle Mississippi Valley and the Western Ohio Valley then progressive shifting eastward into the Lower Great Lakes/Ohio Valley. Episodes of high winds and hail, along with frequent lightning and potential flash flooding rains may accompany these storms. Relatively cool air behind the cold front will spread across the Northern and Central Plains. However, as the next upper trough from the Pacific Northwest approaches, the heat is forecast to return across the Northern High Plains by Friday. The excessive heat across the South is showing signs of abating during the next couple of days as a strong upper level ridge begins to weaken. High temperatures across the Southern High Plains should average about 5 to 10 degrees lower today but still high enough to top the century mark. Some monsoonal showers and thunderstorms are expected to linger over the Central and Southern Rockies. Meanwhile, heat and humidity will be on the increase across the Eastern U.S. as winds turn more southeasterly ahead of the cold front. Ziegenfelder Graphics available at www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/basicwx/basicwx_ndfd.php