The nation's weather

[October 08, 2011]  (AP)  Scattered thunderstorms were expected to move into the Plains on Saturday, while the eastern half of the nation was expected to see another warm fall day.

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A low pressure system over the West Coast continued moving northeastward into Saskatchewan and Manitoba. Flow around this system was expected to continue pushing a strong cold front through the Plains. This front was expected to stretch from the northern Plains and upper Midwest into the southern Plains.

Moisture from the Gulf of Mexico was expected to pour in ahead of this system, allowing for scattered showers and thunderstorms to develop. These storms may turn severe across the southern Plains, due to warmer and more humid conditions over the region. Strong winds, large hail and periods of heavy downpours were possible. As the cold front passes southeastward, more seasonable temperatures were expected to return to the northern Plains. Temperatures were expected to range about 10 degrees cooler, with highs in the 50s across the Dakotas.

In the East, a ridge of high pressure remained the dominant weather feature for the eastern half of the country. This was expected to create another warm and sunny day, with highs ranging in the 70s and 80s. However, in the Southeast, onshore flow from the Atlantic Ocean pushed warm and moist air over Florida and Georgia. This was expected to produce more storms across the region, some of which may turn severe with periods of heavy rainfall.

Out West, high pressure built over the West Coast and allowed for another dry and sunny day. A gradual warming trend was expected across the West Coast before another system moved into the Pacific Northwest early next week.

Temperatures in the Lower 48 states Friday ranged from a morning low of 14 degrees at Monarch Pass, Colo., to a high of 96 degrees at Harlingen, Texas.

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http://www.intellicast.com/

[Associated Press article from Weather Underground]

Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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