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[September 03, 2011] (AP) Tropical Storm Lee was expected to bring another rainy day to the Gulf states on Saturday. The system has developed in the north-central Gulf of Mexico, and is an extremely slow-moving storm. Landfall is anticipated over the Louisiana coast on Sunday.

The storm was expected remain at tropical storm strength with winds between 39 mph to 73 mph (33 knots to 63 knots). The slow-moving system was expected to continue to dump heavy rains across the region, from eastern Texas to Florida. Flooding was expected to be of major concern, as rainfall accumulations through Sunday were expected to range from 10 to 15 inches across the coastal areas. Additionally, storm surge due to strong onshore flow may raise water levels from 2 to 4 feet.

Strong thunderstorms embedded in this storm are likely to produce a few tornadoes.

Elsewhere in the U.S., another low pressure system skirting across the Canadian and U.S. border was expected to push a front through the northern Plains and upper Midwest. Warm air moving in ahead of this front was expected to allow for widespread scattered showers and thunderstorms to develop from the central Plains to the Midwest on Saturday. Some of these storms were expected to turn severe with strong winds and large hail. As this system passes, cooler temperatures were expected to return to the northern Plains and upper Midwest.

Out West, a ridge of high pressure over the West Coast was expected to produce another warm and sunny day, with hot conditions inland. However, a few more monsoon showers and thunderstorms were expected to pop up across the Southwest.

Temperatures in the Lower 48 states Friday ranged from a morning low of 24 degrees at Stanley, Idaho, to a high of 104 degrees at Lincoln, Ill.

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[Associated Press article from Weather Underground]