The Nations Weather

In the eastern two-thirds of the Nation, the main story was the interaction of Gustav with a cold front over the middle and lower Mississippi Valley, as well as portions of the central and southern Plains. Scattered showers and thunderstorms erupted as a result. Torrential rainfall led to large areas of flooding from Missouri to Louisiana. Isolated tornadoes were also observed across portions of southern Arkansas, Louisiana, and southern Alabama. To the east, an upper-level low pressure system was responsible for triggering isolated showers and thunderstorms across southern New England. Strong to severe thunderstorms produced a swath of large hail and damaging winds across western Massachusetts, western Connecticut, and southeastern New York. Farther south, isolated showers and thunderstorms were observed over portions of the Deep South and along the Gulf Coast.

Across the West, an upper-level trough produced showers and thunderstorms across portions of the northern Rockies. A few strong to severe storms managed to produce large hail and damaging winds across portions of eastern Wyoming. Further south, afternoon showers and thunderstorms impacted the central and southern Rockies, as well as portions of the Desert Southwest. A tornado was reported near Big Lake, Arizona. Elsewhere, mostly fair and dry conditions were observed.

For Thursday, the remains of Gustav will ride north along a cold front up into the northeastern Mississippi Valley and the Great Lakes. It will be responsible for more torrential rainfall and isolated tornadoes. Further east, a few afternoon showers and thunderstorms may be present over the Northeast, as well as across portions of Florida and the Gulf Coast. Moving west, showers and thunderstorms will be found along a low pressure system and cold front over the central and northern Plains, with more isolated afternoon activity possible across the central and southern Rockies.

All interests in the western Atlantic will need to pay attention to Tropical Storm Hanna. Forecasted tracks will have the storm moving to the northeast centering itself somewhere just northeast of the Bahamas by 10pm EDT tonight. Some strengthening will be possible and Hanna may reach near hurricane strength sometime tonight into Friday.

WEATHER EXTREMES SO FAR TODAY:

HIGHEST TEMPERATURE (DEGREES F)............111 Death Valley, CA

HIGHEST HEAT INDEX (DEGREES F).............111 Brownsville, TX

LOWEST TEMPERATURE (DEGREES F)..............28 Meacham, OR

................ Hettinger, ND

LOWEST WIND CHILL (DEGREES F)...............19 Ely, NV

HIGHEST WIND GUST (MPH).....................58 Edgemont, SD

HIGHEST PRECIPITATION (INCHES)............6.89 Greenville, MS

ON THIS DATE IN HISTORY:

In 1941, a strong thunderstorm produced a tornado that struck Minneapolis, Minnesota. The tornado killed 5 people.

In 1970, strong thunderstorms produced torrential rainfall over portions of Arizona. The 24 hour state rainfall record was set in Workmans Creek with 11.40 inches. There were reports of incredible cresting rates of 5-10 feet in an hour for some rivers and massive flooding ravaged the central portions of the state.

In 1986, strangely strong dust devils struck the Pullman Airport in Flagstaff, Arizona. The dust devils managed to flip planes over and damage the hanger.

DTN-Meteorlogix

Copyright 2008 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.