The Nations Weather

NATIONAL WEATHER SUMMARY:

In the East, rain showers and thunderstorms pounded New York, New England, and northern portions of Pennsylvania and New Jersey during the day and into the overnight as a cold front swept through the Northeast. Severe weather reports of hail up to the size of golf balls and strong wind gusts were scattered throughout the area, with downed trees and power lines as well as structural damage left in the wake. A few houses caught fire in Massachusetts due to lightning strikes, and one person was struck by lightning in Worthington, Mass. Heavy rains also drenched the area, with rainfall amounts in excess of 5 inches causing flooding. Grafton, Mass., received the highest rainfall total of 5.41 inches. Roads were impassable in Shrewsbury, Mass., with water up to car windshields. Two people had to be rescued from the rising waters in Southborough, Mass. Meanwhile, down to the south, a stationary front brought showers and storms from the Southern Atlantic States to the Gulf Coast. Moderate to heavy rainfall was the main concern with this activity; however, a few strong wind gusts blew through northern Florida as well. Record high temperatures were also tied in Florida yesterday, with Miami and Vero Beach each topping out at 95 degrees.

Across the central United States, moderate to heavy rainfall soaked western portions of the Gulf Coast as a stationary front lingered in the area. Record rainfall totals were reached in Louisiana, where amounts in excess of 4 inches caused flooding across the state. New Iberia, La., received 3.98 inches of rain, breaking the old record of 1.31 inches set back in 1991. Showers and storms also impacted portions of Texas, where lightning sparked a few wild fires in Victoria. To the north, a storm system produced showers and storms through the Northern and Central Plains, Minnesota, and portions of the Middle Mississippi Valley during the day and into the overnight hours. Hail up to golf ball size and wind gusts up to 70 mph were recorded, along with moderate to heavy rains. In Marengo, Iowa, 2.60 inches of rain fell in less than an hour, with 2.90 inches of rain in Montour, Iowa, in 1.5 hours. Law enforcement also spotted a tornado touch down near Storden, Minn.

In the West, isolated to scattered showers and storms impacted portions of the Pacific Northwest, the Intermountain West, and the Northern and Central Rockies as a storm system pushed through the area. A few reports of small hail were found across Montana and Wyoming. Meanwhile, in the south, a trough of low pressure brought showers and storms to southern portions of Arizona and New Mexico. A thunderstorm wind gust near 60 mph hit Ryan Field, Ariz. Chilly temperatures, for this time of year, were found across portions of the Great Basin as well. Delta, Utah, tied their record low minimum temperature of 45 degrees.

WEATHER EXTREMES FOR YESTERDAY:

HIGHEST TEMPERATURE (DEGREES F)............111 Laughlin, NV

HIGHEST HEAT INDEX (DEGREES F).............111 Laughlin, NV

LOWEST TEMPERATURE (DEGREES F)..............28 Truckee, CA

LOWEST WIND CHILL (DEGREES F)...............28 Truckee, CA

HIGHEST WIND GUST (MPH).....................70 Ireton, IA

.............................................. Newcastle, NE

HIGHEST PRECIPITATION (INCHES)............5.41 Grafton, MA

ON THIS DATE IN HISTORY:

In 1950, the town of York, Neb. was drenched with 13.15 inches of rain in 24 hours, establishing a state record.

In 1975, three people were killed and six were injured when lightning struck a walnut tree near Mayo, Fla. The nine people were stringing tobacco under a tin shed when the bolt hit the nearby tree.

In 1989, 16 cities in the central and western United States reported record high temperatures. The reading of 103 degrees in Denver equaled their record high for July and the 110 degree reading at Rapid City, S.D., equaled their all time record high. This was the fifth consecutive day above 100 degrees in Denver and the 8th consecutive day in Scottsbluff, Neb.

DTN/Meteorlogix: A Thell

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