The Nations Weather

NATIONAL WEATHER SUMMARY:

In the East, an early morning storm system moved rapidly from the central US through Kentucky and Tennessee early in the day and then moved through the Carolinas, West Virginia, and Virginia in the afternoon and evening. As the storms pushed across Kentucky and Tennessee they produced severe thunderstorms with damaging wind gusts. Winds gusted to 50-60 mph along the TN/KY border felling trees and downing power lines along the way. Storms then continued across the Carolinas continuing to produce severe wind gusts and a few hail storms as well. A tornado was even reported over North Carolina and temporarily closed part of I-85 with downed trees. A few more severe storms developed in the evening over areas of eastern GA and northern FL. Winds gusts of 60-75 mph were reported over areas with 74 mph recorded by a certified spotter in Jacksonville, FL.

Across the central United States, early morning rain pushed through Missouri, Illinois, and western Indiana before pushing south. The storms did not produce widespread severe weather in the early hours of the day, but a few wind gusts were reported in far southern IL and southeastern MO. Winds were estimated at 50-55 mph in these areas and produced numerous reports of downed trees. The storms did produce areas of heavy rainfall from central Missouri to central Illinois were generally 1.00-1.50 inches. Springfield, IL reported 2.64 inches in the first half the day. In the afternoon and evening severe storms blossomed over the central and eastern Dakotas. Numerous reports came in from central SD to southeastern SD through the afternoon.

In the West, scattered showers and isolated thunderstorms developed throughout the mountains of the region. No severe storms were reported in the region. Rainfall amounts generally ranged from 0.10 inches to 0.25 inches.

WEATHER EXTREMES FOR TUESDAY:

HIGHEST TEMPERATURE (DEGREES F)............107 Pecos, TX

HIGHEST HEAT INDEX (DEGREES F).............108 Brunswick, GA

LOWEST TEMPERATURE (DEGREES F)..............34 Aspen, CO

LOWEST WIND CHILL (DEGREES F)...............24 Red Cliff Pass, CO

HIGHEST WIND GUST (MPH).....................74 Jacksonville, FL

HIGHEST PRECIPITATION (INCHES)............2.64 Springfield, IL

ON THIS DATE IN HISTORY:

In 1882, a tornado traveled more than 200 miles across the state of Iowa, killing 130 persons. The tornado touched down about 90 miles west of Grinnell, and struck the town and college around sunset, killing 60 persons and causing more than half a million dollars in damage. Traveling at nearly 60 mph, the tornado hit Mount Pleasant about 11 p.m., causing another half-million dollars in damage.

In 1965, Holly, CO, was deluged with 11.08 inches of rain to establish a state 24-hour rainfall record.

In 1989, a unseasonably cool air mass was responsible for 37 record lows in the central US on the 15th and 16th. A low of 33 was recorded in Valentine, NE, as a 3-day severe weather outbreak came to a screeching halt.

DTN/Meteorlogix: M Jones

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