The Nation's Weather

Associated Press

Rain, thunderstorms and strong winds gusts were expected across the Northeast on Thursday, with heavy local rainfall and flooding risks across the Great Lakes and New England.

Thunderstorm clusters and significant rainfall were also expected along a cold front stretching southward through the Ohio, Tennessee and lower Mississippi river valleys and into southern Texas.

Storms over southern Texas, Alabama, Georgia and the Florida Panhandle had the possibility of becoming severe, with large hail and damaging winds.

In the Southwest, pockets of showers and thunderstorms were to develop across the Four Corners, western Texas and higher elevations in California. Another warm day was expected for the remainder of the West.

Temperatures in the Lower 48 states Wednesday ranged from a low of 27 degrees at Stanley, Idaho, to a high of 102 degrees at Williams Gateway Airport, Ariz.