A strong heat wave continues to dominate the weather east of the Rockies today, where highs are forecast to be in the 90s across the eastern half of the country. Widespread thunderstorms will develop along the Gulf coast of Texas and Louisianna, where 2-4" of rainfall is expected and more significant amounts possible in harder hit areas. Scattered storms may also extend from the central Great Plains into the Upper Mississippi Valley and Upper Great Lakes Region, with areas of heavy rainfall. Lighter but more widespread precipitation is also forecast for much of Montana, North Dakota and northern and central Idaho, with snow possible above 5,000 ft in southwestern Montana and Central Idaho. Temperatures will be well below normal across the Pacific Northwest, the Great Basin and the high terrain of California, although the lower elevations in California and across the Southwest will continue to reach near normal levels for continued warm, dry and breezy conditions. Dry, southwesterly flow will be strong and gusty over portions of central and eastern New Mexico and possibly into western New Mexico and southern Arizona in the afternoon. Warm temperatures are expected across most of Alaska’s interior, with highs in the mid to high 70s. Widespread showers and thunderstorms with abundant lightning will spread into the north central to northeastern interior, where fuels are receptive to new ignitions.