A series of disturbances will follow a west-to-east path across the country, generating scattered to widespread showers and thunderstorms.  Some of the heaviest rain, locally 2 to 4 inches or more, will fall around the middle of the week in the Tennessee Valley and environs.  Most other areas of the country will receive some precipitation, although mostly dry weather will persist from the Pacific Coast to the western Gulf Coast States.  Meanwhile, extreme heat will remain focused across the nation’s southern tier, including the Desert Southwest, the western Gulf Coast region, and much of Texas. 

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