Short Range Forecast Discussion NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD 343 AM EDT Thu Sep 01 2022 Valid 12Z Thu Sep 01 2022 - 12Z Sat Sep 03 2022 ...Prolonged and potentially dangerous heat wave likely into this weekend across much of the West... ...Slight to moderate risk for flash flooding across parts of Texas Thursday-Saturday... The big weather story this week will be a prolonged and possibly record heat wave building over the Western U.S. into this upcoming holiday weekend (and lasting well into the medium range period as well). Temperatures in the mid to upper 90s and lower 100s will likely result in widespread daily temperature records each day. Excessive heat warnings are in effect across the desert Southwest and California, with heat advisories stretching across much of the central Great Basin. Little to no relief from the heat overnight will only increase the heat stress and create a potentially dangerous situation for sensitive individuals. The Pacific Northwest may get a brief break from the heat as a cold front slides through the region Friday into Saturday. The hot temperatures and minimal moisture/low relative humidity values will also contribute to an elevated fire weather threat across portions of the northern Rockies and High Plains on Thursday, and parts of the Pacific Northwest ahead of the cold front and the central Plains on Friday. An upper-level disturbance combined with ample tropical moisture will continue to support widespread showers and storms, locally heavy, Thursday and Friday across western and northeast Texas. Excessive rainfall capable of producing instances of flash flooding is possible and WPC has highlighted parts of Texas within a slight to moderate risk. A front will settle into the Deep South by Friday maintaining a threat for locally heavy rainfall across parts of the Southeast and Gulf Coast states. Beyond, a stationary boundary looks to set up along the Texas Gulf Coast region resulting in potentially widespread moderate to heavy rain by Saturday in that region. Elsewhere, a cold front through the Midwest on Friday may tap limited moisture to produce mainly light and scattered precipitation and thunderstorms from the central Plains to the Upper Great Lakes. Santorelli Graphics are available at https://www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/basicwx/basicwx_ndfd.php