Short Range Forecast Discussion NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD 404 PM EDT Thu Jul 23 2020 Valid 00Z Fri Jul 24 2020 - 00Z Sun Jul 26 2020 ...Tropical Depression Eight to produce heavy rainfall for parts of the Gulf Coast this weekend, Tropical Storm Watches issued for the Texas Coast... ...Heavy Rainfall possible for parts of the Southwest, Central Appalachians and Mid-Atlantic while Severe thunderstorms may impact the Northern Rockies/Plains and Northeast... ...Monsoon showers and storms over parts of Arizona and New Mexico, cooler temperatures to return to the West, there is a critical risk of wildfires over parts of the Great Basin... The main concern for this weekend will be the threat of heavy rainfall and wind posed by Tropical Depression Eight. The tropical depression currently circulating in the Gulf is forecast to strengthen to a tropical storm tomorrow before beginning its approach toward the Texas coast. Most of the current precip associated with the Depression is focused over the central Gulf coast. Localized heavy rainfall may lead to flash flooding with up to 2 inches possible tonight through tomorrow (Friday). Rainfall rates will pick up on Saturday as the storm makes landfall along the south Texas coast. Over an inch and a half of rain is expected for parts of the Texas coast through Saturday. For more information, visit the National Hurricane Center's website at nhc.noaa.gov. Heavy rainfall will also occur over the Northern Plains tonight through Saturday ahead of a pair of low pressure systems emerging from the Rockies. A Slight Risk of Excessive Rainfall area was issued for parts of the Upper Midwest on Saturday as the systems appraoch the region. A Slight Risk of Severe Weather was issued as ongoing thunderstorms may continue over the Northern Rockies/Plains tonight through Saturday morning. Another slight risk area is in place over much of the Northeast tonight, ahead of a cold front which continues to spur scattered convection across the region as it glides toward the Atlantic. Above average temperatures are expected to continue from the Northern Plains to the Upper Great Lakes tonight through Saturday. Night time temperatures will be particularly warm as lows are expected to bottom out in just the low to mid-70s, which may be up to 20 degrees above average for that area. In the southwest, monsoonal moisture will become a fixture in the forecast as we progress into the weekend over the Four Corners region. Rainfall rates may be heavy at times tonight 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 thanks to an upper-level trough. Lastly, the central Great Basin is under a critical risk for fire weather for the rest of today. Kebede Graphics available at www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/basicwx/basicwx_ndfd.php