Short Range Forecast Discussion
NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD
358 PM EDT Thu Aug 06 2026

Valid 00Z Fri Aug 07 2026 - 00Z Sun Aug 09 2026

...Dangerous heat expands across the Southwest, Intermountain West,
Rockies, and the central/southern Plains into the weekend...

...Unsettled weather persists for portions of the Southwest and across
parts of the eastern half of the U.S. the next few days...

...Poor air quality from wildfire smoke continues for parts of the Pacific
Northwest, Great Basin, Intermountain West, and the Rockies...

A sprawling dome of mid/upper level high pressure will amplify across the
Great Basin and Four Corners through Saturday, bringing increasingly
hotter weather to the Southwest, Intermountain West, Rockies, and the
central/southern Plains into the weekend. High temperatures are expected
to surge well into the 90s and 100s, leading to widespread Major to
locally Extreme HeatRisk across the region. Numerous daily temperature
records are likely beginning on Friday and continuing each day through
Sunday.

Meanwhile, a wavy and nearly stationary frontal boundary stretching from
the central/southern Plains to the Northeast will focus scattered showers
and thunderstorms across parts of the eastern half of the U.S. over the
next few days. Along and south of this boundary, thunderstorms developing
within an environment that features plenty of moisture and instability
will support the potential for high rainfall rates. If storms are
slow-moving or repeatedly train over the same areas, isolated to scattered
flash flooding will be possible, especially for low-lying, poor drainage,
and urban areas. Some storms may become strong to marginally severe across
parts of the central/southern Plains and from the Carolinas to the
Northeast through this evening, with damaging winds and hail the primary
concerns. Another cold front pushing into the Plains, Upper Midwest, Ohio
Valley, and Great Lakes Friday into Saturday could also spark a few more
strong to marginally severe thunderstorms. Additionally, monsoonal
moisture will likely produce daily showers and thunderstorms with the
threat of locally heavy rain and isolated flash flooding over parts of the
Southwest during the afternoon and evening hours through the end of the
week and into the weekend.  

Ongoing wildfires across the western U.S. will continue to produce large
plumes of dense and persistent smoke, resulting in poor air quality across
portions of the Pacific Northwest, Intermountain West, and Rockies the
next several days. Air quality alerts remain in effect, highlighting the
potential for adverse health effects for groups that are sensitive to poor
air quality.


Miller


Graphics available at
https://www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/basicwx/basicwx_ndfd.php