Short Range Forecast Discussion NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD 409 AM EDT Wed Aug 19 2020 Valid 12Z Wed Aug 19 2020 - 12Z Fri Aug 21 2020 ...Record heat in the West will become less intense but fire danger will progress from the interior Northwest toward the central Great Basin... ...Scattered showers and thunderstorms will persist for the coming days across the southeastern quadrant of the country... A strong mid/upper-level ridge of high pressure that is responsible for the recent heat wave across the western U.S. is forecast to gradually weaken. This will allow the record heat to continue its slow moderation for the coming days across the region. Nevertheless, record high temperatures are still forecast today for some locations in the Great Basin and remains widespread in the Desert Southwest. In addition to the heat, the dry conditions will enhance fire danger, especially for the interior northwestern U.S., where lightning strikes associated with isolated afternoon/evening thunderstorms ahead of a Pacific front could ignite wildfires. Elevated to critical fire danger should then progress toward the central Great Basin on Thursday as the front pushes farther to the south and east. Meanwhile, much of the eastern half of the country will experience cooler than normal temperatures thanks to persistent upper-level troughing. While mainly fine weather is expected for the Plains, the Midwest and the Northeast, tropical moisture interacting with a stalled front will keep a good chance of showers and thunderstorms for much of the Southeast including Florida as well as the Mid-Atlantic for the coming days. It appears that general rainfall totals are not especially heavy for the area. Nevertheless, some locally heavy rain could lead to flooding concerns in parts of the area. Kong Graphics available at www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/basicwx/basicwx_ndfd.php