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[August 21, 2009] (AP) Severe weather was forecast to advance into New England and the Northeast on Friday.

A deep trough of low pressure over the East Coast would continue to create a cold front that was expected to kick up scattered showers and thunderstorms, with heaviest rainfall over the Northeast.

Rainfall totals up to 2 to 3 inches were expected in areas of severe thunderstorm development just ahead of this cold front as it tracked up the Ohio River Valley throughout the day. This front was expected to extend down the East Coast and wrap into the lower Mississippi River Valley, but was not expected to produce more than half an inch of rain in any location.

Behind this front, the low pressure system was forecast to pull cool and dry air into the central U.S. from Canada. This would allow for slightly below normal temperatures, with highs reaching into the 70s as far south as the mid-Mississippi River Valley. A sunny and comfortable day was expected over the Midwest.

However, the Plains was expected to see warmer temperatures as high pressure builds in from the West. Hot and dry conditions were expected across the Plains, with highs reaching into the 90s in some areas. As this ridge slowly moves eastward, a low pressure system was forecast to approach the Pacific Northwest from the Gulf of Mexico. This would allow for temperatures to return to normal over Oregon and Washington, while a heat advisory would remain in effect over the Southwest due to another day in the 100s.

Temperatures in the Lower 48 states Thursday ranged from a low of 34 degrees at Yellowstone, Wyo., to a high of 112 degrees at Palm Springs, Calif.

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On the Net:

Weather Underground: http://www.wunderground.com/

National Weather Service:
http://iwin.nws.noaa.gov/

Intellicast:
http://www.intellicast.com/

[Associated Press article from Weather Underground]