Prognostic Meteorological Discussion
Issued by NWS
Issued by NWS
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160 FXUS01 KWBC 060802 PMDSPD Short Range Forecast Discussion NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD 358 AM EDT Sun Sep 06 2026 Valid 12Z Sun Sep 06 2026 - 12Z Tue Sep 08 2026 ...Scattered strong to severe thunderstorms across the Southeast for the remainder of the Labor Day weekend... ...Cool and unsettled weather will progress through the Great Basin and Intermountain West with heavy rain emerging across northwestern Montana on Labor Day, followed by strong thunderstorms across the northern Plains into Tuesday... ...Heat persists across the midsection of the country while cooler air expands further into the West Coast and the Northeast... A deepening low-pressure system over the Canadian Maritimes continues to bring a cool air mass farther southward into the eastern U.S. Showers and thunderstorms triggered near and along the leading edge of this cool air mass have gradually shifted southward, with the main focus across the Southeast to the eastern Gulf Coast region for today into tonight. The Storm Prediction Center is highlighting a slight risk of severe thunderstorms for portions of the Southeast. Behind the front, the cool air will break the recent spell of heat in the eastern U.S. with high temperatures reaching only into the mid-70s to low 80s for the next couple of afternoons. Morning lows dropping into the 40s and 50s will bring a first taste of Fall across New England. As the heat dome remains anchored over the country`s midsection, a deep upper-level low continues to edge farther inland across the western U.S. A band of heavy rainfall could set up across Utah today near a slow-moving front. Urban areas, as well as dry washes and burn scars will be most vulnerable to flooding. Over the next couple of days, a low-pressure system is forecast to gradually consolidate across the northern High Plains as the deep upper low edges toward the northern Rockies. This pattern will lead to increasing coverage of showers and thunderstorms across the northern Rockies to the northern Plains over the next couple of days. The developing storm will interact with anomalous moisture to yield an expansive shield of moderate to locally heavy rain on the northern flank of the low over portions of the northern Rockies. WPC is highlighting northwestern Montana for a slight risk of excessive rainfall on Labor Day. East of the wrap-around rainfall, an approaching Pacific cold front could drive strong thunderstorms across the northern Plains, spreading eastward into the upper Midwest, and southward into the central Plains ahead of the trailing cold front on Tuesday as the maturing cyclone drifts across the Canadian Prairie. Temperatures beneath the upper-low will be cool across the West this weekend into the new week as daytime highs dip 10 to 20 degrees below normal. In fact, below-freezing morning temperatures are expected across the higher elevations as far south as northern California and the Sierra Nevada peaks. Meanwhile, oppressive heat will continue through Labor Day in the Nation`s Heartland with the unrelenting upper-level ridge over the nation`s midsection. Heat indices of 105 to 110 degrees and record warm overnight temperatures will be widespread across the Central/Southern Plains States and Mississippi Valley through the rest of Labor Day weekend and into next week. See WPC`s Key Messages for more information on the heat, limit afternoon outdoor activity if possible, and stay hydrated regardless of your Labor Day plans. Kong/Asherman Graphics available at https://www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/basicwx/basicwx_ndfd.php Extreme Heat Key Messages available at: https://www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/key_messages/LatestKeyMessage_1.png $$