Short Range Forecast Discussion NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD 359 PM EDT Thu Jul 30 2020 Valid 00Z Fri Jul 31 2020 - 00Z Sun Aug 02 2020 ...Areas of heavy rainfall and some flash flooding possible from the Central Plains and Middle Mississippi Valley east to the Mid-Atlantic region... ...Extreme heat, dry weather and locally elevated fire danger will be the story across the West... ...Tropical Storm Isaias may bring impactful weather to the Southeast coast this weekend... The wettest conditions across the Lower 48 look to occur from the Southern Plains and Middle Mississippi Valley to the Mid-Atlantic due to waves of low pressure developing along an elongated frontal boundary. A slight risk for excessive rainfall and a swath of Flash Flood Watches are in place from central Kansas to the southern and central Appalachians this evening. There is also a slight risk for severe weather across the Southern Plains, through central Arkansas, and into western Tennessee. By Friday, the front across the east-central U.S. will slightly dip south into the Mid-South forcing heavy showers and storms to develop over the Lower Mississippi and Tennessee Valleys. As a result, a slight risk for flash flooding is effect in these regions as well as the central Appalachians. While a cold front swings through the South Central U.S. on Saturday, an upper level trough over the Mississippi Valley will continue to generate low pressure over the Ohio Valley, thus keeping the threat for flash flooding in the forecast across the region the first half of the weekend. While much of the Plains witness cooler than normal temperatures heading into the weekend, extreme heat and locally elevated fire danger engulfs much of the Pacific Northwest, Great Basin and the Southwest U.S. as a strong ridge of high pressure develops overhead. More record high temperatures are expected in parts of these regions on Friday as temperatures approach and exceed the century mark for many interior deserts. In fact, portions of the Desert Southwest are likely to see temperatures range between 110 to 120 degrees Friday afternoon. The abnormally hot weather combined with very dry air and locally gusty winds will enhance the fire danger as a result, with the biggest concerns across the Northwest given the potential for lightning strikes associated with some dry thunderstorm activity. The Storm Prediction Center features elevated risks for fire weather in the Northwest and central Great Basin this evening and on Friday. Tropical Storm Isaias (pronounced ees-ah-EE-ahs) is currently just off the northern coast of Hispaniola and tracking west-northwest this afternoon. Isaias will pass south of the Turks and Caicos tonight and track along the southern periphery of the Bahamas on Friday. The latest forecast calls for the storm to come very close to the southeast coast of Florida on Saturday and remain very close to the Southeast coast this weekend. There is the potential for heavy rain, strong winds, and significant coastal impacts but the storm's track and intensity off the East Coast are still subject to change. Please consult the latest National Hurricane Center public advisories for more information. Mullinax Graphics available at www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/basicwx/basicwx_ndfd.php