Short Range Forecast Discussion NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD 426 PM EDT Thu Jun 24 2021 Valid 00Z Fri Jun 25 2021 - 00Z Sun Jun 27 2021 ...Dangerous, record breaking heat likely over the Pacific Northwest beginning this weekend... ...Heavy rain and severe weather to impact the Central Plains and Midwest through the weekend... ...Minor fire weather concerns in the Great Basin today... On the heels of historic heat in the Southwest U.S., additional record breaking hot weather is forecast over the Pacific Northwest into the Sacramento Valley beginning this weekend, before spreading east by midweek beneath a strong dome of high pressure aloft. Forecast high-temperatures on Saturday in cities such as Portland and Seattle will approach 110 degrees, which would break previously held all time high-temperature records for these locations. By Sunday, the extreme heat is forecast to drift east toward Idaho and Montana, with some locations potentially hitting highs of 110 degrees. Moreover, little relief is expected from the heat at night as low temperatures will remain in the mid-low 70's through early next week. Excessive Heat watches and warnings blanket the region through Wednesday; residents are advised to limit outdoor activity, drink plenty of fluids, and stay in an air conditioned room if possible. Further south in the Great Basin and Northern California today, dry thunderstorms with isolated lightning strikes are possible overlapping areas with dry fuels. Red Flag warnings are in effect through this evening, but by tomorrow fire weather conditions are expected to abate. Over the Central U.S., a slow moving cold front is expected to stall overnight through Friday before pushing South this weekend. The front will aid in producing showers and thunderstorms over the Upper Midwest through Saturday. A Moderate Risk of Excessive Rainfall remains in effect today and tomorrow for portions of Northeast Kansas and Central Missouri. The associated heavy rain will create numerous areas of flash flooding, many streams may flood, potentially affecting larger rivers through Sunday morning. By early Saturday, the flash flood threat shifts southward into the Southern Plains and Great Lakes, where a Slight Risk remains in effect. An Enhanced Risk of severe thunderstorms overlaps much of a similar area in Kansas and Missouri today, while also extending into Illinois and Minnesota. All modes of severe weather are possible today, including tornadoes, wind and hail. A Slight Risk of severe weather remains in the Central U.S while extending into the Southern Plains and Central Illinois for all modes of severe. A Marginal Risk of severe weather extends along the cold front Sunday morning from the Southern Plains into the Upper Midwest. Asherman/Ziegenfelder Graphics available at www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/basicwx/basicwx_ndfd.php