The Nations Weather

NATIONAL WEATHER SUMMARY:

Across the eastern United States, a frontal boundary generated clusters of thunderstorms during the morning over much of the Tennessee Valley and Southeast. Heavy storms produced heavy rainfall amounts across Alabama. Birmingham picked up 3.44 inches of rain and Huntsville reported over 2 inches yesterday. Some of these storms were strong to severe. One severe storm in Fayette County in Tennesse produced damaging wind gusts that knocked out power over most of the western part of the county. The front also produced thunderstorms in the Carolinas. A severe storm in Montgomery County in North Carolina downed a tree. Showers and thunderstorms tapered off by late evening across most areas of the southeast. Elsewhere, scattered showers and storms also extended into Virginia, and an upper-level disturbance brought some showers to northern New England.

In the central United States, the trailing edge of a frontal boundary brought thunderstorm complexes to southern Nebraska, eastern Kansas, southwestern Missouri, northeastern Oklahoma, and Arkansas. One severe storm knocked down power lines in Cash, AR yesterday morning. A few storms also produced rainfall over one inch. A developing low pressure system produced severe storms during the afternoon across the Dakotas. Golf ball to baseball sized hail covered the ground up to 6 inches deep in some places near Ree Heights, SD. Thunderstorms continued to develop from ND to western NE and eastern CO during the evening and overnight hours. A trained spotted reported a funnel cloud near Valentine, NE and a large tornado was reported near I-90 in far northeastern WY. Elsewhere, high pressure produced fair weather over the Upper Midwest and the Mid-Mississippi Valley. It was a cool start to the day across the Great Lakes and northern MN. International Falls, MN reported a new record low with a reading of 35 degrees yesterday morning. Appleton, WI also noted a record low of 46 degrees. Meanwhile, triple digits were common place across Texas and Oklahoma yesterday.

Across the West, an upper-level low produced scattered showers and thunderstorms over the Pacific Northwest, northern Rockies, and northern High Plains. Most areas received rainfall of 0.35 inches or less. Some stronger storms produced hail the size of golf balls near Valier, MT. Hail lasted for almost 15 minutes and covered the ground near Brusett, MT. Elsewhere, a ridge of high pressure brought warm and dry weather to the remainder of the West. Triple digit heat was found across the southwest from western Texas to eastern California.

WEATHER EXTREMES FOR YESTERDAY:

HIGHEST TEMPERATURE (DEGREES F)............119 Death Valley, CA

HIGHEST HEAT INDEX (DEGREES F).............128 Goodyear, AZ

LOWEST TEMPERATURE (DEGREES F)..............25 Truckee, CA

LOWEST WIND CHILL (DEGREES F)...............25 Truckee, CA

HIGHEST WIND GUST (MPH).....................86 Porcupine, SD

HIGHEST PRECIPITATION (INCHES)............3.44 Birmingham, AL

ON THIS DATE IN HISTORY:

In 1936, a severe drought raged from Texas to the Dakotas. Afternoon highs today for 113 stations across Iowa averaged 108.7 degrees.

In 1987, eight cities reported record low temperatures for today, including Duluth, MN with a reading of 37 degrees.

In 2005, between July 14th and July 20th, Death Valley recorded 7 consecutive days of temperatures of 125 degrees or higher.

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