304 FXUS01 KWBC 031833 PMDSPD Short Range Forecast Discussion NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD 233 PM EDT Sat Oct 03 2026 Valid 00Z Sun Oct 04 2026 - 00Z Tue Oct 06 2026 ...Excessive rainfall threat across the Southeast on Sunday while continuing across the central Gulf Coast and southern Texas while this weekend... ...A long duration October heatwave emerging across central and southern California before spreading into the Great Basin... Over the next couple of days, heavy rainfall threat will remain focused over the Gulf Coast and Southeast, while an anomalous October heatwave builds across the western U.S. The lingering wet weather pattern is the result of a cool and dry air mass across the northern tier of the country interacting with a tropical wave over the Gulf. The Weather Prediction Center maintains a Slight Risk (at least 15% chance) of excessive rainfall today near the central Gulf Coast, lower Texas Coast, and eastern North Carolina. By tomorrow, the focus for scattered flash flooding is forecast to lift northeastward across the interior Southeast with the passage of a weak upper-trough. The latest forecast still suggests a few inches of heavy rain can be expected this weekend along the central Gulf Coast, with a maximum of 7 inches possible near the Gulf Shores and Florida Panhandle. The heavy rainfall threat will gradually decrease from Sunday night to Monday morning for the Southeast and along the Gulf Coast as the trough nudges the front farther to the south. Until that happens, however, Flood Watches are in effect through late Sunday and early Monday from coastal Mississippi to the Florida Panhandle, respectively. Meanwhile, a low pressure system sweeping across the Northern Tier will fuel scattered showers and thunderstorms across Upper Midwest/Great Lakes through tomorrow. By early Monday morning, a strong trailing cold front will intensify this low pressure system and potentially bring heavy showers and embedded thunderstorms into interior New England. Across the Mid-Atlantic, showers behind a cold front early this morning will move off the coast as the cool air mass from the Ohio Valley to the Northeast takes over. Rain chances will return tomorrow morning, however, as a surface low develops over the Carolinas later today and lifts into the western Atlantic on Sunday. As the wet pattern persists across the South, an anomalous ridge of high pressure will build a late season October heatwave across the western U.S. through next week. Temperatures will run 15 to 20 degrees above normal, bringing highs well into the 90s toward the coast and adjacent urban areas, with some areas in the Central Valley of California nearing 100. Overnight lows in the mid to upper 70s in the Los Angeles and San Diego urban areas will provide little relief through the heat wave. Extreme Heat Warnings are in effect for much of Southern California, while Heat Advisories extend across the Central Valley and Bay Area. The heat will then expand farther northeast over the next couple of days, with high temperatures in the 80s and near 90 degrees emerging across the Great Basin. A few daily temperature records could fall over the next few days in California and the Great Basin as a result. Asherman/Kong Graphics available at https://www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/basicwx/basicwx_ndfd.php $$