Hot, well above normal, temperatures near 100oF will continue across the Inland Northwest into eastern Montana, and spread into northern Nevada, northern Utah, and the lower elevations of California. Low afternoon relative humidity below 20% will continue with poor overnight recovery below 30% in places, especially for the Inland Northwest, northern Rockies, and northern Great Basin. Locally breezy westerly winds are expected in the Cascade Gaps of northeast California, Oregon, and Washington. Isolated to scattered mixed wet and dry thunderstorms are likely on the western periphery of monsoon moisture for central and northeast Nevada into western Utah, eastern Idaho, and central Montana. Deeper monsoon moisture will move north and westward from the Southwest into southern and eastern Utah, Colorado, and portions of Wyoming for scattered mainly wet thunderstorms. Cooler conditions are expected from the Plains to the East Coast due to a cold front that will continue to move through Texas and the Southeast. Scattered to widespread showers and thunderstorms will develop along the front, especially from east Texas and the Lower Mississippi Valley through the Southeast, bringing relief to much of the Southern Area. Drier post-frontal conditions are expected to spread into the Great Lakes and Northeast, but winds are forecast to remain light. A drying trend will begin across Interior Alaska today, but temperatures will be near normal. Moderate trade winds and dry conditions will continue in Hawai’i. National Predictive Services Outlook 6 Minutes for Safety: The 6 Minutes for Safety topic of the day is Little Venus Fire (Wyoming) – July 18, 2006.