Short Range Forecast Discussion NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD 429 PM EDT Wed Aug 26 2020 Valid 00Z Thu Aug 27 2020 - 00Z Sat Aug 29 2020 ...Formidable Hurricane Laura strengthens further into category-4 intensity and is forecast to make landfall near the Texas-Louisiana border overnight tonight... ...Raging wildfires continue in the West, increased risk for more dry thunderstorms and additional fires through mid week... ...A couple of days of heat is forecast for the north-central Plains to the Midwest as showers and severe storms track quickly from the northern Plains to the Northeast... All eyes are on the formidable Hurricane Laura as it continues to rapidly intensify into category-4 status over the northwestern Gulf of Mexico this Wednesday afternoon. Laura could intensify further this evening before making landfall near the Texas-Louisiana border overnight tonight, bringing phenomenal waves, life threatening storm surge, destructive winds, and flooding rainfall for the upper Texas coast eastward to western Louisiana. Hurricane force winds will no doubt cause damage to homes and businesses, as well as widespread tree damage and power outages. Torrential rainfall totaling 5 to 10 inches with isolated amounts up to 15 inches is expected along and just east of the track of Laura. Severe weather will also be a concern as tornadoes could spawn across portions of the lower Mississippi Valley into Thursday. In addition, damaging winds could penetrate well inland near the track of Laura across western Louisiana and possibly into southern Arkansas on Thursday even though the hurricane will weaken rapidly over land. Residents within Laura's reach should continue to monitor the storm's progress and follow the advice of local officials. If Laura is able to sustain a well-defined circulation inland, a period of strong gusty winds and heavy rain could continue to accompany Laura as it begins to recurve northeastward across the Mid-Mississippi Valley on Friday ahead of a cold front. Farther west, isolated to scattered thunderstorms are expected tonight into Thursday from the interior Pacific Northwest and northern California to the northern Rockies. Unfortunately, many of these storms are expected to be fast moving and are not forecast to produce beneficial rainfall amounts. In addition, frequent lightning strikes may only worsen the ongoing wildfire situation through Thursday. Air Quality Alerts are scattered throughout the West due to ongoing particulate pollution from the vast blanket of smoke aloft. Conditions are forecast improve Thursday night and Friday across the Northwest and northern Rockies as cooler air filters in from western Canada. On the other hand, Excessive Heat Warnings remain in effect along the southern Colorado River Basin and across much of southern Arizona, where afternoon temperatures are expected to soar well above 110 degrees through Friday. A couple of days of heat is expected to spread across the central Plains to the Midwest through Friday as a front becomes stationary across the upper Midwest. Some daily record high temperatures could be broken in parts of the Midwest, Rockies and Southwest. To the north of the front, showers and some strong to severe storms are forecast to track from the northern Plains to the Northeast during the next couple of days. Meanwhile, a couple of days of heat is forecast for the Mid-Atlantic. Kong/Mullinax Graphics available at www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/basicwx/basicwx_ndfd.php