Prognostic Meteorological Discussion
Issued by NWS
Issued by NWS
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678 FXUS01 KWBC 111952 PMDSPD Short Range Forecast Discussion NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD 339 PM EDT Tue Aug 11 2026 Valid 00Z Wed Aug 12 2026 - 00Z Fri Aug 14 2026 ...Mid-summer heat persists from the Central Plains to the Southeast but cooler temperatures soon for the Intermountain West and Northern Plains... ...Severe thunderstorm and heavy rainfall threats continue across the Plains, Midwest, Ohio Valley, and central Appalachians the next couple of days... The heat dome that has recently been over the Southwest is migrating/building into the Mid-South and Southeast, setting the stage for a long-duration heat wave. For the next couple of days, a wavy frontal boundary from the High Plains to the mid-Mississippi Valley, Midwest, and Mid-Atlantic will be the focus for showers and thunderstorms which could be severe and/or promote flash flooding. The heat dome to the south will favor drier conditions and hot temperatures nearing daily records for some locations -- well into the 90s to the low 100s (southern Plains). Dew points in the low to mid 70s will create heat index values of 105-110F for many locations. To the north of the front, temperatures will be closer to normal for mid-August into the 70s to mid 80s. Over the West, a cooling trend is in store for much of the region starting tomorrow when many areas will see below normal highs for the first time in several days thanks to an expansive area of afternoon showers/storms. Some storms could produce excessive rainfall that could cause local flash flooding across the region, but especially in southeastern Arizona. High temperatures in Montana near the Canadian border may stay in the 60s (coolest since June). By Thursday, the cooler air will filter into more of the region as the heat dome exits the West entirely. Areas from the Rockies (and northern High Plains) to the West Coast will see temperatures 5-15F below normal which could be the coolest since late May or early June. In addition, another day of scattered showers/storms are likely for the Rockies/Great Basin/Southwest. Fracasso Graphics available at https://www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/basicwx/basicwx_ndfd.php $$