The Nation's Weather For Monday

WEATHER EXTREMES FOR MONDAY: HIGHEST TEMPERATURE (DEGREES F)...........105 Imperial, CA HIGHEST HEAT INDEX (DEGREES F)............119 Natchitoches, LA LOWEST TEMPERATURE (DEGREES

Tuesday, August 7th 2007, 4:49 am

By: News On 6

WEATHER EXTREMES FOR MONDAY:

HIGHEST TEMPERATURE (DEGREES F)...........105 Imperial, CA

HIGHEST HEAT INDEX (DEGREES F)............119 Natchitoches, LA

LOWEST TEMPERATURE (DEGREES F).............32 Stanley, ID

LOWEST WIND CHILL (DEGREES F)..............32 Stanley, ID

HIGHEST WIND GUST (MPH)....................70 Saint Edward, NE

HIGHEST PRECIPITATION (INCHES)...........2.29 Portland, ME

NATIONAL WEATHER SUMMARY:

In the East, scattered showers and thunderstorms pushed off-shore along the New England coastline, yielding clear to partly cloudy skies and dry, mild conditions. Skies also cleared across the remainder of the Northeast and Middle Atlantic the afternoon in the wake of a passing frontal boundary. A stalled-out frontal boundary spanning from the upper Midwest, along the southern Great Lakes, and into the Ohio Valley, brought partly to mostly cloudy skies across these regions. Clusters of showers and thunderstorms also developed along the frontal boundary, but severe weather was limited to areas of heavy rainfall, occasional lightning, and small sized hail. Further south, hot and humid conditions with a few isolated afternoon showers and thunderstorms were observed in the Southeast, Tennessee Valley, and Florida.

In the Central third of the Nation, a stalled frontal boundary continued to trigger clusters of showers and thunderstorms over portions of the upper and middle Mississippi Valley. A few of these storms became strong to severe, producing damaging wind gusts, lightning, and hail. Pea-sized hail and winds near 70 miles-per-hour were reported in Boone County, Nebraska, while wind gusts brought down tree limbs across much of eastern Nebraska and western Iowa. To the west, scattered showers and thunderstorms developing across the High Plains began to push into western portions of the central and northern Plains late this afternoon. A few of these storms became strong to severe across the Plains, producing walnut-sized hail, winds gusting up to 60 miles-per-hour, and periods of heavy rain. At least one tornado was reported by the public near Lyman, South Dakota, but no injuries or damages have been noted. Further south, a strong upper-level ridge brought hot and humid conditions to the southern Plains, as well as much of the middle and lower Mississippi Valleys. Heat indexes across these areas climbed to near 120 degrees, causing extensive areas of heat advisories and warnings to be issued to the general public.

In the West, areas of isolated to scattered showers and thunderstorms developed this afternoon across much of the Desert Southwest and the southern and central Rockies in association with monsoonal moisture. Periods of brief heavy rainfall and scattered lightning were the main concerns with this activity, as well as areas of flash flooding across portions of Arizona and New Mexico. Isolated shower activity slowly began to diminish near sunset. Elsewhere, clear to partly cloudy skies and dry, fair conditions continued across the northern Rockies, the Great Basin, California, and much of the Pacific Northwest as high pressure continued to dominate these regions.

ON THIS DATE IN HISTORY:

In 1980, five to seven inches of rain fell across the North Concho River north of San Angelo, Texas causing the river to rise 15 feet, nearly sweeping away several campers.

In 1983, 105 degrees at Thunder Bay, Ontario marked their hottest day of all time.

In 1904, a railway bridge near Pueblo, Colorado gave way after being weakened by flash flooding. A passenger train crossing the bridge was swept into the torrent and 89 people were killed.

FRONTS ACROSS THE NATION

A stationary front sits over northeastern Massachusetts, southern New Hampshire, Vermont, northern New York, Lower Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, South Dakota, Wyoming, and eastern Idaho.

A stationary front is located over western Iowa, southeastern Nebraska, and Kansas.

NATIONAL WEATHER FORECAST

Today in the East, patchy fog over the Great Lakes and Northeast will dissipate by mid-morning. Showers and thunderstorms will move into the Great Lakes and Ohio Valley. A few strong to severe thunderstorms may produce gusty winds and hail. Afternoon showers and thunderstorms will develop over the Appalachians, Mid-Atlantic, Southeast, Gulf Coast, and Deep South. Skies will otherwise be partly cloudy. Hot temperatures are expected over most of the region. Temperatures will rise into the 80's in northern New England; with 90's over the Southeast, Deep South, Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, Great Lakes, Appalachians, and Ohio Valley.

Across the central region, a frontal boundary will produce strong thunderstorms over the Midwest and central Plains. Hail, damaging wind gusts, and heavy rainfall will be possible. Isolated showers and thunderstorms will develop over the northern Plains and Lower Mississippi Valley region. Skies in the southern Plains and across Texas will be sunny and dry. Temperatures will rise into the 70's and 80's in the Upper Midwest; with 90's and lower 100's over the Great Plains, Mississippi Valley, and Midwest.

Over the West, monsoonal flow will bring showers and thunderstorms during the afternoon hours to the Rockies and Four Corners region. Isolated damaging wind gusts and hail will be possible. Skies will be sunny and clear over the Great Basin, Desert Southwest, and California, while partly cloudy skies are expected in the Pacific Northwest. Temperatures will rise into the 70's in the Pacific Northwest; 80's over the Rockies and Great Basin, with 90's in interior California and 100's in the Desert Southwest.

Prepared by WeatherBank, Inc.