Short Range Forecast Discussion NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD 400 PM EDT Fri Jul 05 2024 Valid 00Z Sat Jul 06 2024 - 00Z Mon Jul 08 2024 ...Intense heat is expected to persist for much of the West Coast into the weekend... ...Oppressive heat and humidity along the Eastern Seaboard but cooler than normal in the mid-section of the country... ...Severe thunderstorms and heavy rain possible for portions of the Mid-Atlantic states on Saturday, then across the south-central Plains Sunday into early Monday... ...Beryl is forecast to re-intensify over the southwestern Gulf of Mexico on Saturday and threaten the western Gulf Coast of the U.S. through the weekend... A relatively slow-moving weather pattern is forecast across the U.S. as we head into the weekend. This pattern, which features a strong ridge of high pressure aloft in the western U.S. and a weaker ridge over the East Coast, will sustain a heatwave for much of the West Coast states while oppressive heat and humidity will continue along the Eastern Seaboard and down into the Southeast and the Deep South. The most intense heat will be found over the interior low-elevations of the West Coast and into the Desert Southwest where high temperatures into the 110s will be common across the Central Valley of California on Saturday. Widespread temperature records are expected to be tied or broken. The only places where relief from the heat can be found will be the cooling effects of the Pacific Ocean near the coast and the naturally cooler higher elevations. Locally higher temperatures into the 120s are possible in the typical hot spots of the Desert Southwest. The triple-digit heat will expand northward into the Pacific Northwest and parts of the central Great Basin, with widespread highs reachng into the 90s and low 100s. The duration of this heat is also concerning as these record-breaking temperatures are forecast to linger into next week. Heat impacts can compound over time, therefore it is important to remain weather aware and follow the advice of local officials. Heat Watches and Warnings are in effect for much of the West. This level of heat throughout parts of the Mojave Desert and Sacramento/San Joaquin valleys of California could pose a risk to anyone if proper heat safety is not followed. It is imperative to stay hydrated, out of direct sunlight, and in buildings with sufficient air-conditioning when possible. It is also equally as important to check on the safety of vulnerable friends, family, and neighbors. Meanwhile, oppressive heat and humidity will continue shift eastward into the Mid-Atlantic and Southeast as a cool air mass in between the heat domes in the West and the East begins to advance eastward. The Ohio Valley and Tennessee Valleys will cool down on Saturday behind a cold front but showers and thunderstorms will precede the front in these areas through tonight. Some of the rain could be heavy enough to cause flooding concerns as well as the possibility of severe weather. The front is then forecast to stall just inland from the East Coast by Saturday. Ahead of the front, high temperatures rising into the upper 90s and low 100s are expected, with heat indices soaring into the 110s across the lower Mississippi Valley. Warm overnight conditions in the upper 70s and low 80s will offer little relief, leading to a dangerous situation for those without access to adequate cooling. By Sunday, the front will nudge only slightly eastward to reach coastal New England. Drier air behind the front will offer lower humidity and partly sunny skies for inland areas. But the oppressive heat and humidity with scattered thunderstorms will remain from the Mid-Atlantic coast southward into much of the South through the end of the forecast period by Monday morning. Over the mid-section of the country, a persistent upper-level trough will offer below normal temperatures for early July for much of the region. Upper-level disturbances digging southeastward behind the trough axis from Saturday night into Sunday will develop a new low pressure system, along with an increasing chance for heavy showers and strong to severe storms to develop and expand over the south-central Plains. It appears that the most active weather will be near/over Oklahoma later on Sunday into early on Monday when flash flooding and severe thunderstorms will be possible. Last but not least, interests along the western Gulf Coast should pay close attention to the future progress of Tropical Storm Beryl, currently traversing the Yucatan Peninsula. Beryl is forecast to emerge into the open waters of the southwestern Gulf of Mexico on Saturday and will have an opportunity to re-intensify and adopt a more northerly track toward the western Gulf Coast on Sunday. The future track of Beryl will be very sensitive to the distance between the tropical cyclone and the upper trough in the mid-section of the country, as well as how strong Beryl gets in the Gulf. Please refer to the National Hurricane Center on the latest forecast track and intensity of Beryl. Kong/Snell Graphics available at https://www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/basicwx/basicwx_ndfd.php