Short Range Forecast Discussion NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD 356 AM EDT Sun Aug 23 2020 Valid 12Z Sun Aug 23 2020 - 12Z Tue Aug 25 2020 ...Raging wildfires continue in the West, increased risk for more dry thunderstorms and additional fires through early week... ...Marco to generate heavy rain and coastal impacts along the central Gulf Coast on Monday, Laura to reach the Gulf of Mexico late Monday... ...Above-normal temperatures expected across much of the U.S. through early next week, showers and storms to develop over the Great Lakes and Northeast... Significant wildfires in portions of the West continue to generate vast quantities of smoke, poor air quality, and discolored skies over most western regions. Unfortunately, additional dry thunderstorms are forecast to develop later today, thus potentially sparking more wildfires in parts of California, the central Great Basin, and central Rockies. Red Flag Warnings have been issued for much of northern California and portions of the Intermountain West. The threat for dry thunderstorms and lightning will extend north into the northern Rockies on Monday. Marco is forecast to strengthen to a hurricane later today as it heads north through the central Gulf of Mexico. As the storm inches closer to the central Gulf Coast late Sunday and into early Monday, there is an increasing risk of impacts that include storm surge, tropical storm force winds, and heavy rainfall. Currently, the swath of heaviest rainfall totals should occur just east of the storm's track which includes; eastern Louisiana, southern Mississippi, and southern Alabama. These same areas are under a Tropical Storm Watch while coastal locations are under Storm Surge Watches this morning. Meanwhile, Tropical Storm Laura is forecast to track over eastern Cuba this evening and eventually emerge in the southeastern Gulf of Mexico by late Monday. The storm looks to pass just west of the Florida Straits, potentially producing heavy rain and tropical storm force winds to the Keys and southern Florida peninsula, resulting in Tropical Storm Watches being issued in these areas. There is the opportunity for Laura to strengthen in the Gulf of Mexico late Monday and into the middle of next week, but both the intensity and forecast track remain unclear at this time. Please refer to the National Hurricane Center for the latest advisories and forecast information regarding these systems. Elsewhere across the Lower 48, above-normal temperatures are expected to engulf much of the U.S. through early next week. More record-breaking heat is expected for portions of California, the Southwest, the central Rockies, and the Northeast. Excessive Heat Watches are in effect for Monday through midweek across portions of southern Arizona where temperature are expected to soar above 105 degrees each day. Farther north, a series of frontal boundaries look to trigger showers and storms from the Northern Plains and Great Lakes to the Northeast today and Monday. The severe threat looks to continue in the Northeast on Tuesday as a cold front approaches the region. Daily episodes of showers and thunderstorms look to continue throughout the Southeast. Mullinax Graphics available at www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/basicwx/basicwx_ndfd.php