


Prognostic Meteorological Discussion
Issued by NWS
Issued by NWS
Versions:
1
2
186 FXUS01 KWBC 211928 PMDSPD Short Range Forecast Discussion NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD 327 PM EDT Thu Aug 21 2025 Valid 00Z Fri Aug 22 2025 - 00Z Sun Aug 24 2025 ...Tropical Storm conditions continue for the North Carolina Outer Banks and coastal Virginia tonight; tropical storm force gusts possible for the remainder of the Mid-Atlantic and southern New England Coasts into Friday... ...Life-threatening surf and rip currents will be churning up and down the East Coast through the next couple of days... ...Thunderstorms expected along a stalling cold front across portions of the Southeast, Gulf Coast, and Texas, with a Slight Risk of Excessive Rainfall for portions of Georgia and South Carolina Friday... ...Dangerous heat wave building over the western U.S. late this week and into the weekend... Several areas along the coast are under a tropical storm watch, storm surge warning, and coastal flood warning as Hurricane Erin continues to trek northeastward along the East Coast. Erin will continue to bring strong gusty to tropical storm force winds along the North Carolina Outer Banks and northward along the Mid-Atlantic Coast through the coast of southern New England tonight through Friday. In addition, storm surges can bring large waves, leading to significant beach erosion and overwash, and some roads may become impassible. Hazardous beach conditions, life-threatening surf, and rip currents will remain a serious concern more broadly along the East Coast and will likely last through at least the next couple of days. Beachgoers should follow advice from lifeguards, local authorities, and beach warning flags. A cold front over the northern Plains continues to slowly push east/southeast, bringing chances for some scattered thunderstorms across the northern Plains into the upper Midwest this evening into tonight. There is a chance of hail and gusty winds developing with these storms as midlevels exhibit favorable instability and shear. Chances for scattered thunderstorms will gradually move into the Great Lakes by Friday, as the cold front slowly moves eastward. These storms will progress towards the Great Lakes. Another slow moving front heading into the south-central U.S. continues to bring chances for scattered thunderstorms ahead of the front. With ample amount of moisture in the upper levels and chances for 2-3"/hour of rainfall rates, parts of the Texas through the Southeast and Southern Appalachians have been highlighted for Marginal Risk of Excessive Rainfall, which can lead to possible flash flooding. The front over the southeast will become stationary by Friday, bringing a higher chance for scattered thunderstormms along the boundary. Therefore, Georgia and southern parts of South Carolina is under an Slight Risk for Excessive Rainfall for Friday. Over western U.S. elevated monsoonal moisture will continue to trigger afternoon thunderstorms across portions of the Southwest/Four Corners region tonight and expand into the central Rockies Friday. Locally intense downpours could produce a quick 1-2" of rain which may lead to some isolated flash flooding, particularly for more sensitive areas such as along steep terrain, burn scars, and urban areas. A strong upper-level high continues to bring the chances for dangerous heat over much of the western U.S. the next couple of days and will continue into the weekend. Parts of the western U.S. will be under a Major HeatRisk through the weekend, with isolated areas experiencing Extreme HeatRisk conditions. Widespread heat-related warnings and advisories are in effect across much of inland California/Oregon and Nevada as highs climb into the 90s and 100s, and across the Desert Southwest as highs climb into the 110s. This dangerous level of heat will pose a threat to anyone without effective cooling and adequate hydration. Highs into the 90s more broadly across the West will still pose a threat to anyone more sensitive to heat or engaging in strenuous outdoor activities. By the end of the weekend, temperatures over central to southern western U.S. begin to cool but Northern Pacific will continue to experience above normal temperatures into the work-week. Otherwise, a cold front will bring below average temperatures over the northern Plain into the upper Midwest with temperatures mostly in the 70s on Friday. Oudit/Putnam Graphics available at https://www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/basicwx/basicwx_ndfd.php $$