The Nations Weather

Associated Press - April 13, 2009 4:13 AM ET

In the eastern two-thirds of the Nation, the main weather feature was a storm system centered over the southern Plains. Scattered showers and thunderstorms pushed across Oklahoma, eastern Texas, and into western Arkansas. These storms mainly featured beneficial rains for the region, with heavy downpours as times. A few isolated storms became strong across portions of southern Arkansas. Quarter sized hail fell near Junction City, Ark. Meanwhile, scattered rain showers fell across a large portion of the central Plains. No heavy rains occurred. Isolated rain showers extended northward into the northern Plains during the early morning hours. To the east, isolated snow showers and breezy winds occurred across portions of northern New England. Snow accumulations were minimal with wind gusts to 25-35 mph in spots. Otherwise, high pressure brought dry and quiet weather to the Great Lakes, the Ohio and Tennessee Valleys, the Gulf Coast, the Southeast, and the Mid-Atlantic.

Across the West, scattered rain and high elevation snow showers were present across most of the Rockies. The heaviest activity was concentrated across Colorado. Heavy snows fell across the central Colorado Mountains with additional snow totals of over 6 inches in spots.

Rain changed to snow this morning across portions of the Front Range with light accumulation so far today. More isolated rain and mountain snows fell across the northern Rockies with light accumulations of rain and snow. Mountain snows extended southward into northern New Mexico during the early morning. To the west, a storm system brought rain and mountain snow showers to the Pacific Northwest. Moderate rainfall totals were found across the lower elevations and foothills. Otherwise, quiet weather was the norm across California, the western Great Basin, and the Desert Southwest.

WEATHER EXTREMES SO FAR TODAY:

HIGHEST TEMPERATURE (DEGREES F)..............89 Edinburg, TX

HIGHEST HEAT INDEX (DEGREES F)...............94 Edinburg, TX

LOWEST TEMPERATURE (DEGREES F)................8 Stonington, MI

............................................... Spincich Lake, MI

LOWEST WIND CHILL (DEGREES F).................8 Stonington, MI

............................................... Spincich Lake, MI

HIGHEST WIND GUST (MPH)......................43 Hondo, TX

HIGHEST PRECIPITATION (INCHES).............1.85 Tulsa, OK

ON THIS DATE IN HISTORY:

In 1927, the Texas town of Rock Springs was nearly wiped out by a mile-wide tornado. The tornado killed 72 people and destroyed 235 of the 247 buildings in town.

In 1934, Mount Washington, N.H. peaked at 231 mph, the highest wind speed ever clocked in the world.

In 1988, up to 17 inches of snow fell across portions of the southern Appalachians.

Filed by DTN-Meteorlogix

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