Short Range Forecast Discussion NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD 357 AM EDT Thu Jul 23 2020 Valid 12Z Thu Jul 23 2020 - 12Z Sat Jul 25 2020 ...Tropical Depression Eight to soak portions of the Gulf Coast into the weekend, Tropical Storm Watches issued for the Texas Coast... ...Areas of severe storms & heavy rainfall across the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, and Northern Plains... ...Monsoon showers and storms in the Four Corners, cooler conditions across the West, there is critical risk of wildfire over parts of the Great Basin... Tropical Depression Eight developed in the Gulf of Mexico overnight and track west northwest towards the Texas coast. Heavy showers and thunderstorms will track along the central and eastern Gulf Coast with locally heavy downpours possible. Slight risks for flash flooding are in place today over along the southwest coast of Florida and the immediate central Gulf Coast. As T.D. Eight inches closer to the western Gulf Coast on Friday, so does the threat for flash flooding as a Slight risk is in place from southern Louisiana to southeast Texas. T.D. Eight is expected to become a Tropical Storm and make landfall in southern Texas later this weekend. Tropical Storm Watches are in effect for much of the Texas coast. Through Saturday morning, the heaviest rainfall totals are forecast to set up along the coastlines. Other potential impacts include coastal flooding and gusty winds. For more information, visit the National Hurricane Center for the latest track information throughout T.D. Eight's lifespan. Heavy rainfall is not only expected to occur along the Gulf Coast, as several other regions are at risk for excessive rainfall and severe storms. Thursday's most at-risk areas for severe weather are in the Northeast and northern High Plains where Slight risks for severe storms are present. Portions of the Mid-Atlantic and central Appalachians are under a Slight Risk for flash flooding as more strong-to-severe thunderstorms roll through the region. Severe weather is also in the cards across the Northern Plains with intense thunderstorms likely to traverse the Northern Plains both today and Friday. In addition to the severe weather potential, stifling heat will continue across the North-Central U.S. with high temps in the mid-upper 90s. To the southwest, monsoonal moisture will become a fixture in the forecast the remainder of the week over the Four Corners region. Rainfall rates may be heavy at times today and Friday with excessive rainfall a cause for concern in parts of Arizona and New Mexico, resulting in the issuance of a Slight Risk for flash flooding in these states. Otherwise, much of the western U.S. can expect cooler than normal conditions to close out the week thanks to an upper-level trough. Lastly, the central Great Basin is under a critical risk for fire weather conditions today. Mullinax Graphics available at www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/basicwx/basicwx_ndfd.php