The Nation's Weather: Sunday

WEATHER EXTREMES FOR YESTERDAY: HIGHEST TEMPERATURE (DEGREES F)...........108 Bullhead City, AZ HIGHEST HEAT INDEX (DEGREES F)............118 Natchitoches, LA LOWEST TEMPERATURE

Monday, August 6th 2007, 5:08 am

By: News On 6

WEATHER EXTREMES FOR YESTERDAY:

HIGHEST TEMPERATURE (DEGREES F)...........108 Bullhead City, AZ

HIGHEST HEAT INDEX (DEGREES F)............118 Natchitoches, LA

LOWEST TEMPERATURE (DEGREES F).............33 Meacham, OR

LOWEST WIND CHILL (DEGREES F)..............33 Meacham, OR

HIGHEST WIND GUST (MPH)....................65 Philip, SD

HIGHEST PRECIPITATION (INCHES)...........2.42 Chicago, IL

NATIONAL WEATHER SUMMARY:

In the East, an upper-level disturbance continued to produce widespread rain showers and a few thunderstorms across the Southern Great Lakes, Ohio Valley and the Mid-Atlantic. Rainfall was moderate to heavy at times giving many areas close to two inches of rain, but no severe weather was reported in these regions. Meanwhile, an area of high pressure centered over Maine, brought generally clear skies to much of the Northeast throughout the afternoon and evening hours. A few isolated thunderstorms developed late this afternoon across portions of the Southeast in association with daytime heating, but slowly dissipated near sunset. Otherwise, partly cloudy skies prevailed across the majority of the Southeast, Gulf coast, and Tennessee Valley throughout the evening.

Across the central part of the Nation, a surface low coupled with an upper-level trough extending the central Dakotas and into the northern High Plains, triggered ares of isolated showers and thunderstorms across portions of the northern Plains and as far south as central Nebraska. The thunderstorms that developed late this afternoon quickly became severe, producing hail up to two inches in diameter, wind gusts exceeding 60 miles-per-hour, periods of heavy rainfall, and frequent cloud-to-ground lightning. Meanwhile, the showers and thunderstorms that dumped over three inches of rain across portions of the middle Mississippi Valley and upper Midwest earlier this afternoon, pushed off to the east, yielding partly cloudy skies and mild conditions. Further south, a broad upper-level ridge produced partly cloudy skies and hot, dry conditions across the majority of the central and southern Plains, as well as the lower Mississippi Valley throughout the day.

In the West, monsoonal moisture continued to produce scattered showers and thunderstorms across the Four Corners Region, Southwest, and the Rockies this afternoon. Periods of heavy rainfall and occasional cloud-to-ground lightning were generally the main concerns with this activity. Otherwise, clear to partly cloudy skies and dry, fair conditions continued across the northern High Plains, the majority of the Great Basin, California, and the Pacific Northwest as high pressure continued to dominate these regions.

ON THIS DATE IN HISTORY:

In 1986, the Milwaukee County Stadium was under four feet of water after intense thunderstorms ripped through Wisconsin. 1-point-10 inches of rain fell in five minutes and 5-point-24 inches fell in two hours. The damage was estimated to be about six million dollars.

In 1959, Decatur, Iowa received 16-point-70 inches of rain from heavy thunderstorms.

In 1890, Adair and Union counties in Iowa were hit by hailstorms that dumped four inches of hail in some places. The hail piled up into drifts as high as six feet; some hail was still on the ground at the end of the month in some places.

FRONTS ACROSS THE NATION

A warm front sits over Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and northeastern Ohio.

A stationary front lies across Lower Michigan, northern Illinois, Iowa, and Nebraska.

A cold front sits over Minnesota and South Dakota.

A stationary front is located over western South Dakota and Montana.

NATIONAL WEATHER FORECAST

Today across the East, an area of low pressure will trigger thunderstorms across most of the eastern Ohio Valley, the Northeast, and the Middle Atlantic. A few of these storms will likely reach severe criteria, containing damaging winds and large hail. Otherwise, expect fair skies with dry conditions across the Southeast, the Tennessee Valley, the western Ohio Valley, and the Great Lakes region. Highs will reach the upper 60's to lower 90's across the Northeast, and highs across the Middle Atlantic will be in the upper 80's to upper 90's. Highs across the Southeast will reach the mid 90's to lower 100's, and highs across the Tennessee Valley will reach the lower to mid 90's. Highs across the Ohio Valley will be in the upper 80's to mid 90's, and highs across the Great Lakes region will be in the upper 80's to mid 90's.

Across the central third of the nation, an upper level system will trigger thunderstorms across most of the northern and central Plains and the upper and middle Mississippi Valley. A few of these storms will likely reach severe criteria, containing damaging winds, large hail, and possibly a few isolated tornadoes. Heavy rainfall will result in localized flooding as well. The southern Plains and lower Mississippi Valley will be under fair skies with dry conditions. Highs will reach the lower 70's to lower 90's across the upper Mississippi Valley, and highs across the middle Mississippi Valley will reach the upper 80's to lower 90's. Highs across the lower Mississippi Valley will reach the upper 80's to upper 90's, and highs across the southern Plains will be in the lower 90's to lower 100's. Highs across the central Plains will be in the 90's, and highs across the northern Plains will reach the mid 70's to lower 90's.

In the West, afternoon thunderstorms resulting from monsoonal moisture will affect most of the Desert Southwest, the southern Great Basin, and the southern and central Rockies. Periods of brief heavy rainfall are the main threats with this activity. The remainder of the West will be under a dome of high pressure, bringing fair skies with dry and hot conditions through the day. Highs will reach the mid 70's to lower 90's across the Rockies, and highs across the Great Basin will be in the lower 80's to upper 90's. Highs across the Desert Southwest will be in the mid 80's to upper 90's, and highs across the Pacific Northwest will reach the mid 60's to upper 80's. Highs across California will be in the upper 50's to lower 100's.

Prepared by WeatherBank, Inc.