The Nations Weather

In the East, an upper-level low continued to sit and spin over the Northeast, producing mostly cloudy skies and scattered showers and thunderstorms. A few strong to severe thunderstorms did develop with this activity, mainly across New York. Golf ball size hail fell in Newburgh, New York, and half dollar size hail was reported at Kings Point and Mount Sinai, New York. Strong winds downed many trees throughout the Northeast as well. Rainfall amounts of 1.49 inches fell at Albany, New York, and New York City, New York received 1.18 inches of rain. Further south, afternoon and evening showers and thunderstorms develop across southern portions of the Southeast and Florida. No severe weather was reported with this activity, but Jackson, Mississippi did receive 1.16 inches of rain. Elsewhere, fair and dry conditions were experienced.

Across the central part of the country, scattered to numerous showers and thunderstorms developed across the northern Plains and portions of the central Plains as an upper-level disturbance began to move in from the west. Wide-spread strong to severe thunderstorms were experienced, with frequent lightning, strong winds, large hail, tornadoes, and heavy downpours. In all, seven tornadoes were reported with 6 of them being in North Dakota and one in Nebraska. Baseball size hail fell near Johnstown, Nebraska, and golf ball size hail ripped through Chardon, Nebraska and Bonesteel, South Dakota. Winds of 60 mph were reported at Ideal and Butte, Nebraska. Elsewhere, an upper-level system brought another day of heavy rains and scattered thunderstorms to the southern Plains and the Lower Mississippi Valley. There were isolated reports of severe weather with this activity; however, the main story was the heavy rain. Oklahoma City, Oklahoma set a new rainfall record for the day with 4.62 inches of rain, which shattered the old record of 2.86 set back in 1892. Fort Smith, Arkansas also set a new daily rainfall record of 3.92 inches, which broke the old record of 1.76 inches set back in 1951.

In the West, scattered showers and thunderstorms affected portions of the Desert Southwest, the southern Rocky Mountains, and the high Plains of Colorado and New Mexico. A few stronger thunderstorms developed across eastern Colorado with golf ball size hail reported at Straton, Colorado and winds gusting to 64 mph at Burlington, Colorado. The rest of the West was under the influence of high pressure, with sunny skies and dry conditions.

WEATHER EXTREMES FOR YESTERDAY:

HIGHEST TEMPERATURE (DEGREES F)............117 Death Valley, CA

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

LOWEST TEMPERATURE (DEGREES F)..............29 Stanley, ID

LOWEST WIND CHILL (DEGREES F)...............28 Leadville, CO

HIGHEST WIND GUST (MPH).....................64 Burlington, CO

HIGHEST PRECIPITATION (INCHES)............4.62 Oklahoma City, OK

ON THIS DATE IN HISTORY:

In 1778, a Rhode Island hurricane prevented an impending British-French sea battle, and caused extensive damage across southeastern portions of New England.

In, 1933, the United State high temperature record for the month of August was set at Death Valley, California when it hit 127 degrees.

In 1987, afternoon thunderstorms produced 3.90 inches of rain at Walnut National Monument, Arizona, along with three inches of pea size hail.

DTN-Meteorlogix

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