Short Range Forecast Discussion NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD 318 PM EDT Fri Oct 04 2024 Valid 00Z Sat Oct 05 2024 - 00Z Mon Oct 07 2024 ...Record-breaking heat remains across California and the Southwest through this weekend, while briefly overspreading portions of the Plains and Midwest on Saturday... ...Strong winds and dangerous fire weather conditions are forecast throughout the northern Great Basin, northern Rockies, and into the High Plains... ...Locally heavy rainfall will be possible across the immediate Gulf Coast through Saturday, with more of a focus toward the Florida Peninsula by late Sunday... A late-season heatwave will continue this weekend across the Southwest U.S. as high pressure aloft persists over the region. Record or near-record high temperatures are forecast over a rather widespread region including central and southern California through the Desert Southwest where there will be temperatures reaching over 100 degrees. Some of the interior deserts of the Southwest my locally reach over 110 degrees. Heat-related advisories and warnings are in place as the heat remains at levels dangerous to anyone without adequate cooling or hydration. As a cold front crosses through the Northwest and ejects east across the northern Plains and upper Mississippi Valley through Saturday, some of the heat across the interior of the West will also eject east across portions of the Plains and Midwest where high temperatures will be locally 20 to 25 degrees above average, which may result in a few record-high temperatures here as well. Aside from the heat-related hazards, another major concern through the weekend will be strong winds and dangerous fire weather conditions setting up in close proximity to the aforementioned cold front crossing through the Northwest. This front will settle down through the northern Great Basin, northern Rockies and High Plains and will be accompanied by sufficiently high enough winds for downed trees and power lines to occur. High-wind watches and warnings are in effect. These winds coupled with the very warm and dry airmass near the front will favor critical fire weather conditions that will initially be over the northern Great Basin and northern Rockies tonight through early Saturday, but will then eject east out across the central High Plains Saturday afternoon and evening, and will include areas of the Front Range from Wyoming down into Colorado. The Storm Prediction Center has highlighted a Critical Risk (level 2/3) of fire weather across many of these locations, and there are Red Flag Warnings and Fire Weather Watches in effect. Elsewhere, much of the rest of the country will be tranquil and dry going through the weekend. However, exceptions will include the Great Lakes and Northeast as a frontal system crosses the region and brings a threat of showers and perhaps a few thunderstorms. Rainfall amounts though with this should be relatively light. Also, there will be some concerns along areas of the immediate Gulf Coast for locally heavy rainfall from areas of slow-moving showers and thunderstorms. A substantial amount of moisture pooled around the Gulf of Mexico coupled with proximity of a couple of low-level boundaries will be the main facilitators of this. However, by later Sunday, there will tend to be a growing threat of heavier rainfall and potentially some flooding concerns toward parts of the Florida Peninsula as multiple areas of low pressure begin to congregate offshore over the Gulf of Mexico which will begin enhance the transport of moisture along a front draped across the state. Orrison Graphics available at https://www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/basicwx/basicwx_ndfd.php