The Nations Weather

Yesterday in the East, high pressure continued to bring beautiful weather to the Northeast and Mid Atlantic regions again with plenty of sun and seasonal temperatures. There is quite a contrast from this down in Florida where Tropical Storm Fay continued to impact the state for the fourth day in a row. The system slowly drifted westward into northeastern Florida. Rainfall totals of 3 to 6 inches were common over north-central and northeastern Florida, but over nine inches of additional rain fell yesterday at Sanford, Florida. Rainbands from Fay affected southern South Carolina, southern Georgia, and southern Florida yesterday. Rainfall totals in these areas were considerably lower, ranging from roughly 0.25 inches to 1.25 inches.

In the central United States, an upper-level low continued to generate rain and scattered thunderstorms over much of the Mississippi Valley and stretching westward into Texas. Jackson, Mississippi received 2.10 inches of rain yesterday, breaking the previous daily record rainfall of 1.73 that was set in 1901. Several locations in western Louisiana and southeastern Texas received one to two inches of rain yesterday. Further north, rainfall totals generally ranged from 0.25 to 1.25 inches across the Middle Mississippi Valley, but locally higher amounts occurred. St. Louis, Missouri received a total of 2 inches of rain yesterday. Elsewhere, a cold front entering the northern Plains spawned numerous severe thunderstorms in central and western North Dakota yesterday evening. Winds gusted as high as 60 mph in Stark County in North Dakota yesterday evening with severe thunderstorms.

In the West yesterday, a cold front pushed into Montana and Idaho, with showers and scattered thunderstorms extending from Montana and Idaho back into Washington and northern Oregon. A few severe thunderstorms developed in eastern Montana yesterday evening. One storm in Prairie County in Montana covered the ground with golf ball sized hail. There was also a lone severe storm in Dishman, Washington that dropped hail one inch in diameter. The rest of the West experienced generally fair and dry conditions with high pressure in place. However, onshore flow led to patchy morning fog along the West Coast.

WEATHER EXTREMES FOR YESTERDAY:

HIGHEST TEMPERATURE (DEGREES F)............109 Gila Bend, AZ

HIGHEST HEAT INDEX (DEGREES F).............109 Gila Bend, AZ

LOWEST TEMPERATURE (DEGREES F)..............35 Leadville, CO

LOWEST WIND CHILL (DEGREES F)...............35 Leadville, CO

HIGHEST WIND GUST (MPH).....................62 Mayport, FL

HIGHEST PRECIPITATION (INCHES)............9.47 Sanford, FL

ON THIS DATE IN HISTORY:

In 1933, a major hurricane struck the Hampton Roads area in southeastern Virginia. A storm surge eight feet high inundated Norfolk, Virginia, and winds gusted as high as 100 mph. The hurricane killed 18 people.

In 1980, the high temperature at New Orleans, Louisiana reached 102 degrees, which was the highest temperature ever recorded in the city.

In 1989, lightning struck a barn in Fayette County in Iowa, killing 750 hogs.

DTN-Meteorlogix

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