The Nations Weather

NATIONAL WEATHER SUMMARY:

In the East, heavy rain and thunderstorms fell across the central Gulf coast states today with some road flooding reported over portions of Mississippi, Alabama and western Georgia. A couple storms became severe by the afternoon hours with one report of a mobile home knocked off its foundation near Ansley, Alabama. Heavy rain was the main impact from thunderstorms however with over 2 inches of rain over much of this region. Most of the thunderstorm activity died off by evening but additional storms were dumping heavy rain into portions of South Carolina up until about midnight. Southern Florida avoided most of the rain and it became quiet hot with Miami tying a record high for the day at 95. To the north, it was fairly quiet across the Mid Atlantic region but a few showers and isolated thunderstorms did affect areas of New York and northern New England during the day.

Across the Central states, scattered thunderstorms blossomed by the afternoon hours from central and eastern South Dakota to southwest Minnesota and western Iowa. Storms produced some small hail but the strongest cell was near Hendricks, Minnesota where 1.5 inches of rain was reported in 10 minutes along with winds estimated to be between 60-70 mph. Scattered thunderstorms also fell over portions of southeast Texas during the day but the remainder of the central region was quiet today. It remained very hot across far southern Texas and a new record high was broken at McAllen at 108.

In the West, strong to severe thunderstorms formed across the northern Rockies late in the day ahead of a low pressure system and cold front. Strongest storms moved across central and eastern Montana where there were over 25 reports of severe weather with nickel size hail and wind gusts around 60 mph. Thunderstorms were also common across Wyoming and southward along the front range of the southern Rockies. Dime to nickel size hail was common in these thunderstorms from eastern Colorado to northeast New Mexico. Dry and warm weather was experienced across the Southwest and into Utah and southern Idaho.

WEATHER EXTREMES FOR YESTERDAY:

HIGHEST TEMPERATURE (DEGREES F)............120 Death Valley, CA

HIGHEST HEAT INDEX (DEGREES F).............120 Death Valley, TX

LOWEST TEMPERATURE (DEGREES F)..............33 Bryce Canyon, UT

LOWEST WIND CHILL (DEGREES F)...............33 Bryce Canyon, UT

HIGHEST WIND GUST (MPH).....................71 Jordan, MT

HIGHEST PRECIPITATION (INCHES)............2.48 Chattanooga, TN

ON THIS DATE IN HISTORY:

In 1981, a snow storm produced 10 inches of snow at Glacier National Park along with 90 mph winds. Meanwhile, Denver, CO set a record high for the day with a reading of 101.

In 1987, Greensburg, KS reported unusual fluctuations in temperature accompanied by dust devils and weird looking clouds. The temperature was 75 at 7am and then rose to 95 degrees a few minutes later and back to 86 by 8am.

In 1989, there were over 100 reports of severe weather from OH to New England. Winds peaked at 90 mph in Sullivan County, NH and hail the size of golf balls fell over portion of PA.

DTN/Meteorlogix: J Sullivan

Copyright 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.