Weather Extremes For Monday

WEATHER EXTREMES FOR MONDAY: HIGHEST TEMPERATURE (DEGREES F)...........109 Needles, CA HIGHEST HEAT INDEX (DEGREES F)............115 Alva, OK LOWEST TEMPERATURE (DEGREES F).............29

Tuesday, August 21st 2007, 5:51 am

By: News On 6

WEATHER EXTREMES FOR MONDAY:

HIGHEST TEMPERATURE (DEGREES F)...........109 Needles, CA

HIGHEST HEAT INDEX (DEGREES F)............115 Alva, OK

LOWEST TEMPERATURE (DEGREES F).............29 Stanley, ID

LOWEST WIND CHILL (DEGREES F)..............24 Stanley, ID

HIGHEST WIND GUST (MPH)....................82 Lincoln, NE

HIGHEST PRECIPITATION (INCHES)...........9.40 Miller, MO

NATIONAL WEATHER SUMMARY:

In the East, a stalled out frontal boundary triggered widespread showers and thunderstorms across the northern Middle Atlantic states, Ohio Valley, and into portions of the middle Mississippi Valley. Severe weather activity was limited to quarter-sized hail, damaging wind gusts, and heavy downpours of rain. Rainfall totals of up to three inches, with locally higher amounts near six inches, were reported across these areas. Further south, a few isolated thunderstorms developed late this afternoon across portions of the Deep South in association with daytime heating and an upper-level low spinning across the western Gulf coast. This activity diminished shortly after sunset, yielding partly cloudy skies and dry, mild conditions. Otherwise, fair and dry weather continued throughout the day across the Southeast, Tennessee Valley, much of the Middle Atlantic region, and the Northeast.

In the western half of the country, showers and thunderstorms slowly came to an end across much of the middle Mississippi Valley by the late afternoon hours. However, the remains of a mesoscale convective system continued to dump heavy rain across portions of southern Missouri, where five to eight inches of rain has fallen since early this morning. A complex of thunderstorms developed across the central Plains this afternoon along a quasi-stationary frontal boundary. This feature coupled with a developing low pressure system over the northern Plains, created a favorable environment for the development of strong to severe thunderstorms. Damaging wind gusts in excess of 60 miles-per-hour, hail nearly two inches in diameter, and heavy downpours of rain, were common across Kansas, Nebraska, and Iowa late this afternoon. At least one confirmed tornado was reported in Richland, Nebraska, but no structural damage was reported. Skies remained mostly cloudy across the northern Plains with a few isolated areas of showers and thunderstorms. Dry, humid conditions impacted the majority of the southern Plains, where heat indices exceeding 105 degrees was common. A few isolated showers and thunderstorms developed along the western Gulf coast and portions of southwestern Texas, but rainfall amounts were typically light. Further west, a broad area of scattered showers impacted portions of the Pacific Northwest and northern Great Basin, but no significant rainfall was reported. Elsewhere, fair and dry conditions continued across the central and southern Mississippi Valley, the Rocky Mountains, the high Plains, Desert Southwest, the majority of the Great Basin, and California.

ON THIS DATE IN HISTORY:

In 1992, Hurricane Andrew strengthens north of Puerto Rico and turned more westerly with maximum sustained winds 60 miles-per-hour. Andrew would later devastate the state of Florida.

In 1984, the state fair in Pueblo, Colorado had to be closed during a vicious hail storm. Nine people were seriously hurt, and damage totaled 40 million dollars.

In 1883, an F5 tornado hit Rochester, Minnesota killing 30 and injuring 200.

FRONTS ACROSS THE NATION

A stationary front reaches across Virginia, West Virginia, Ohio, Indiana, northern Illinois, Iowa, southern Minnesota, southeastern South Dakota, and into Nebraska.

An occluded front stretches across North Dakota and north-central South Dakota.

A cold front reaches across Wyoming, Idaho, and southern Oregon.

NATIONAL WEATHER FORECAST

Across the East, showers and thunderstorms will develop and move through the Mid-Atlantic, Appalachians, Southeast, Ohio Valley, and Treat Lakes. A few strong to severe thunderstorms may contain gusty winds, hail, and heavy rainfall. Skies over the Northeast will be partly cloudy and dry. Fair skies are also expected over the Deep South and along the Gulf Coast. Temperatures will rise into the 60's and 70's over the Northeast and Great Lakes; 80's in the Ohio Valley; with 90's and 100's in the Southeast and Deep South.

In the central region, showers and strong thunderstorms are expected to develop across the central Plains and Midwest. A few isolated tornadoes, hail, gusty winds, and heavy rainfall will be possible with the stronger storms. Isolated to scattered showers and thunderstorms are expected over the northern Plains and along the Texas Gulf Coast. Skies will be fair and dry, with humid conditions over the southern Plains and Ozarks. Temperatures will rise into the 70's over the northern Plains and Upper Midwest; 80's in the Midwest; 90's in the central and southern Plains; with 100's in the Lower Mississippi Valley and in western Kansas.

Over the West, a broad ridge of high pressure will keep most skies fair and dry. Partly cloudy skies are expected over California, the Great Basin, and central and northern Rockies. A few afternoon showers and thunderstorms are possible along the southern Rockies and Desert Southwest. No severe weather is expected. Rain showers will move over the Pacific Northwest. Temperatures will rise into the 60's and 70's in the Pacific Northwest and northern Rockies; 80's and 90's in the Great Basin and central Rockies; with 100's and 100's in southern California and the Desert Southwest.

Prepared by WeatherBank, Inc.