The Nation's Weather For Tuesday

WEATHER EXTREMES FOR TUESDAY HIGHEST TEMPERATURE (DEGREES F)...........106 Erwin, NC HIGHEST HEAT INDEX (DEGREES F)............120 Chickasha, OK LOWEST TEMPERATURE (DEGREES

Wednesday, August 8th 2007, 4:39 am

By: News On 6

WEATHER EXTREMES FOR TUESDAY

HIGHEST TEMPERATURE (DEGREES F)...........106 Erwin, NC

HIGHEST HEAT INDEX (DEGREES F)............120 Chickasha, OK

LOWEST TEMPERATURE (DEGREES F).............32 Truckee, CA

LOWEST WIND CHILL (DEGREES F)..............32 Truckee, CA

HIGHEST WIND GUST (MPH)....................70 Sturgis, SD

HIGHEST PRECIPITATION (INCHES)...........6.79 Rockford, IL

NATIONAL WEATHER SUMMARY:

In the East, a strong warm front produced a massive area of showers and thunderstorms over the Great Lakes. This slow-moving system dumped heavy amounts of rain, which resulted in areas of flash flooding, especially around Cleveland, Ohio. Some of the heavier rain amounts included the following:

LOCATION AMOUNT(INCHES)

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Benton Harbor, Michigan 2.74

Saginaw, Michigan 2.42

Cleveland, Ohio 2.98

Toledo, Ohio 1.95

Chicago, Illinois 1.67

Marengo, Illinois 6.79

Areas near Rockford, Illinois saw roads covered by high water, prompting several rescues. Some areas also experienced damaging winds as the storms swept through. Towards the afternoon and evening hours, much of the rainfall had moved on to the Mid-Atlantic. Elsewhere, hot and humid conditions, with an occasional afternoon shower, dominated much of the Ohio and Tennessee Valleys, and the Southeast. In the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic, partly cloudy and warm conditions prevailed.

In the central states, a strong system brought showers and thunderstorms to the Central Plains and Upper Mississippi Valley. None of these storms became severe, and rain fall amounts were generally light. 1-point-07 inches fell in Des Moines, Iowa, while 0-point-83 fell in Kearney, Nebraska. Elsewhere, warm air surging north from the Gulf of Mexico resulted in hot and humid conditions across the Southern Plains and Middle and Lower Mississippi Valleys. By the afternoon hours showers and some strong to severe thunderstorms flared up in the Central and Northern Plains. Some storms produced gusty winds and hail up to one and three quarters of an inch. Common rainfall totals were between a quarter of an inch and an inch with a few locally higher amounts.

In the West, a few showers brought on by monsoonal moisture impacted areas of the Central and Southern Rockies, as well as the Desert Southwest. Rainfall amounts were minimal. Across the northern High Plains and Northern Rockies, smoke from wildfires reduced visibilities in some areas. Otherwise, partly cloudy skies and dry conditions prevailed. Patchy morning fog reduced visibilities in some areas up and down the West Coast, giving way to cool and damp conditions. Partly cloudy and pleasant conditions were reported for the Pacific Northwest, Great Basin, and California.

ON THIS DATE IN HISTORY:

In 1878, Denver, Colorado hit its hottest temperature ever at 105 degrees fahrenheit.

In 1979, a tornado struck a fair in Marion, Ohio injuring thirteen people.

In 1904, a wind gust of 116 miles-per-hour damaged eighty-two aircraft at Henderson Sky Harbor Airport and McCarran International Airport in Las Vegas, Nevada. The damage estimate for the event was fourteen million dollars.

FRONTS ACROSS THE NATION

A warm front sits over southern Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, and northern New York.

A cold front extends over northern Lower Michigan, southern Wisconsin, and Iowa.

A stationary front sits over far western Illinois, northern Missouri, and Kansas.

A warm front dips into northeastern North Dakota.

NATIONAL WEATHER FORECAST

In the East today, a low pressure system will produce scattered showers and thunderstorms across the Northeast. There will also be chances for thunderstorms over the Great Lakes Region along a stationary front. Some of these storms could become severe; hail up to 0-point-75 inches in diameter and wind gusts up to 65 miles-per-hour will be the primary threats. Elsewhere, daytime heating will lead to scattered showers and thunderstorms developing this afternoon across the Mid-Atlantic and Southeast. Highs will range from the mid 70's to low 90's throughout the Northeast. The Great Lakes Region and Appalachians will experience highs ranging from the upper 80's to mid 90's. Across the Ohio Valley, Mid-Atlantic, and Southeast, highs will range from the low 90's to near 100 degrees.

In the Central United States, a low pressure-trough will spawn clusters of thunderstorms from the Dakotas southward through northern Kansas, and over Minnesota, Iowa, northern Missouri, and western Illinois. Some of these storms could become severe in the afternoon and evening hours, with the main threat being damaging wind. Elsewhere, a weak disturbance will produce isolated thunderstorms in southwestern Texas. Otherwise, generally fair skies are expected for the remainder of the Central United States. Highs will range from the low 80's to low 90's across the Northern Plains and most of the Upper Midwest, although some areas in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan can expect highs in the 70's. Meanwhile, the Central and Southern Plains, as well as the Middle and Lower Mississippi Valley, will experience highs ranging from the low 90's to 105 degrees.

Today in the West, a disturbance will produce scattered showers and thunderstorms over southern New Mexico. Meanwhile, areas of fog will develop this morning along the West Coast due to onshore flow. Otherwise, a ridge of high pressure will produce fair weather over the remainder of the West. Highs will be mainly in the 80's and 90's throughout the Rockies, Intermountain West, and interior portions of the Pacific Northwest. Along the West Coast, highs will range from the low 60's to near 80. Interior California, as well as the Desert Southwest, can expect highs ranging from the upper 80's to near 105 degrees.

Prepared by WeatherBank, Inc.