Short Range Forecast Discussion NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD 410 PM EDT Thu Oct 01 2020 Valid 00Z Fri Oct 02 2020 - 00Z Sun Oct 04 2020 ...Cool down spreads east from Plains to East Coast, while heat continues in the West... ...Slight Risk of Flash Flooding possible for parts of southern Florida... High pressure currently situated over the Plains will continue to drag cool continental Canadian air south across the central and eastern U.S. on the backside of a deep upper level trough. The primary low pressure system currently draped along the East and Gulf Coasts is forecast to move offshore tonight and will be followed by the cooler airmass currently stationed over the central U.S. where high temperatures are forecast to be up to 20 degrees below average in some places through Saturday. Excessive Heat Warnings and Heat Advisories are in effect along coastal California as high temperatures are forecast to remain 15-20 degrees above normal for many places through Saturday. Low temperatures will remain similarly above average as well during this time period. The excessive heat combined with continuing dry conditions will promote the possibility of fires to break out along the California coast, as indicated by Red Flag Warnings and the Storm Prediction Center's Elevated Fire Weather Risk areas for today and tomorrow. Air Quality Alerts are also in effect for various parts of inland California and Oregon. High wind gusts and dry conditions over the Northern Plains warrant an Elevated Fire Risk for that part of the country. A stationary boundary currently draped over southern Florida will continue to be the focus for heavy rainfall and scattered thunderstorms through Saturday. A Slight Risk of Flash Flooding is in effect for southern Florida through Saturday as a result. The southern portion of the east coast low pressure system will eventually overtake the stationary boundary on Saturday, but will continue to produce rain and thunderstorms into the medium range. Kebede Graphics available at www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/basicwx/basicwx_ndfd.php