034
FXUS01 KWBC 261826
PMDSPD
SHORT RANGE FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS WEATHER PREDICTION CENTER COLLEGE PARK MD
225 PM EDT THU MAR 26 2026
VALID 00Z FRI MAR 27 2026 - 00Z SUN MAR 29 2026
..RECORD-BREAKING HEAT CONTINUES TO EXPAND EASTWARD
...SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS LIKELY ACROSS THE MID-MISSISSIPPI AND OHIO
VALLEYS THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING...
...A COOLER AND CALMER WEEKEND IS IN STORE FOR MUCH OF THE EASTERN
HALF OF THE COUNTRY...
RECORD-BREAKING HEAT IS SET TO CONTINUE MOVING EASTWARD OVER THE
NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS. THE HEAT WILL MOVE INTO THE EASTERN PLAINS
AND MIDWEST TODAY, AND THE SOUTHEAST ON FRIDAY, AS AN UPPER-LEVEL
RIDGE CONTINUES TO ROUND OUT AND WEAKEN IN THE SOUTHERN UNITED
STATES. THE GREATEST TEMPERATURE ANOMALIES ARE EXPECTED FROM THE
CENTRAL/SOUTHERN HIGH PLAINS TO ILLINOIS AND INDIANA, WHERE HIGH
TEMPERATURES ARE FORECAST TO REACH 25-35 DEGREES ABOVE AVERAGE.
NUMEROUS DAILY RECORDS ARE EXPECTED TO BE TIED OR BROKEN TODAY IN
THE CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN PLAINS, AND FRIDAY IN THE SOUTHEAST.
MEANWHILE, A STRONG COLD FRONT WILL BRING A REPRIEVE FROM THE HEAT
TO THE CENTRAL AND EASTERN U.S. TO END THE WEEK. THE FRONT WILL
CONTINUE PUSHING SOUTH ACROSS THE NORTHERN HALF OF THE COUNTRY
THROUGH THE REST OF THE DAY, THEN PROGRESS PAST THE SOUTH-CENTRAL
AND SOUTHEASTERN U.S. ON FRIDAY. WHILE THE PASSAGE OF THE FRONT
WILL FAVOR THE NORTHERN PARTS OF THE COUNTRY WITH COOLER
TEMPERATURES, IT WILL ALSO BRING STRONG TO SEVERE SCATTERED
THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS THE MID-MISSISSIPPI AND OHIO VALLEYS THIS
AFTERNOON AND EVENING. THUNDERSTORMS WILL BRING HAZARDS INCLUDING
DAMAGING WINDS OVER 70MPH, VERY LARGE HAIL, AND POTENTIALLY A FEW
STRONG TORNADOES. AFTERWARDS, STRONG HIGH PRESSURE WILL SPREAD
ACROSS THE CENTRAL AND EASTERN U.S. IN THE WAKE OF THE FRONT,
USHERING IN DRIER WEATHER AND COLDER TEMPERATURES FOR THE END OF
THE WEEK. TEMPERATURES WILL DROP AS MUCH AS 20-30 DEGREES ON THE
BACKSIDE OF THE COLD FRONT.
FURTHER WEST, A WEAK AND DRY FRONTAL BOUNDARY WILL AID IN COOLING
AND DRYING PORTIONS OF THE CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN ROCKIES TODAY AND
FRIDAY. THIS WILL BE ACCOMPANIED BY STRONG AND GUSTY WINDS, WHICH
WILL SUPPORT ELEVATED TO CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS ACROSS
THE CENTRAL/SOUTHERN ROCKIES AND PLAINS TODAY. OTHERWISE, AN
UNUSUALLY CALMER WEEKEND IS EXPECTED FOR THE VAST MAJORITY OF THE
CONTINENTAL U.S., WITH ONLY ISOLATED PRECIPITATION POSSIBLE IN
PARTS OF SOUTHERN TEXAS, AND SHOWERS/THUNDERSTORMS IN SOUTHERN
FLORIDA.
BLANCO-ALCALA/DOLAN
GRAPHICS AVAILABLE AT
HTTPS://WWW.WPC.NCEP.NOAA.GOV/BASICWX/BASICWX_NDFD.PHP
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