815 FXUS01 KWBC 252001 PMDSPD Short Range Forecast Discussion NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD 359 PM EDT Thu Jun 25 2026 Valid 00Z Fri Jun 26 2026 - 00Z Sun Jun 28 2026 ...Heavy rainfall and severe storms continue across portions of the Central U.S. the next few days... ...Heat starts to build across the Southern U.S. and expanding north through Saturday... ...Extremely critical fire weather conditions expected over parts of the central Great Basin Friday; fire weather conditions continue this weekend... A frontal system (with waves of low pressure along it) is in place across the central Plains and Ohio Valley and will continue to slowly meander there for the next couple of days. Abundant moisture and instability will continue to flow into this front and bring scattered to widespread thunderstorms. Thunderstorms could be severe per the Storm Prediction Center, which indicates Slight Risks of severe weather along areas of the front in Wyoming, the south-central Plains, and eastern Ohio/western Pennsylvania this evening and tonight. Additionally, especially as moisture increases in a low level jet through tonight (Thursday night), heavy rain is likely with these storm complexes. WPC has a Moderate Risk (level 3/4) of excessive rainfall in effect through Thursday night centered in southern Kansas and nearby, and Flood Watches are in effect as well. Scattered flash flooding is possible throughout the south-central Plains and Mid-Mississippi Valley. Storm coverage should move east just a touch on Friday, extending from the Mid-Mississippi Valley across the Ohio Valley, with scattered flash flooding and severe weather. By Saturday these storms should focus across the southern/central Appalachians to Mid-Atlantic, with less of a severe threat. Elsewhere, scattered showers and thunderstorms could move across the northwestern U.S. for the next couple of days as a couple of frontal systems traverse the region. Northern High Plains convection could become severe by Saturday as a reasonably strong low pressure system moves in. On the other hand, the southwestern U.S. will be rather dry, and see potentially dangerous fire weather conditions as winds increase. The central Great Basin to portions of the Four Corners states could have particularly dangerous fire conditions especially Friday, when an Extremely Critical risk area is delineated. Ongoing fires along with any new fires that develop will have the potential to spread quickly and can exhibit extreme fire behavior. Critical fire conditions are forecast to continue into the weekend with the dry and windy weather. An expansive area of Red Flag Warnings and Fire Weather Watches are in effect. After hot weather today (Thursday), the West can expect cooler conditions to spread across the region on Friday and Saturday behind a cold front. High temperatures should be generally 10-20 degrees below average in the West Coast states to northern Great Basin on Friday, cooling further on Saturday and reaching most areas west of the Rockies. Meanwhile, temperatures will gradually warm in the southern tier under a broad upper-level ridge. Temperatures are forecast to reach the low 100s in parts of Texas and well into the 90s across the Southeast to Mid-Atlantic on Friday and Saturday. Above average temperatures in the 90s will spread north across the High Plains on Saturday, which is a precursor to even more heat in the central to eastern U.S. next week. Tate Graphics available at https://www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/basicwx/basicwx_ndfd.php $$