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[September 16, 2009]  (AP)  Wet weather was forecast to cause flooding problems in the South on Wednesday due to a nearly stagnant storm system, while the North would remain under mild weather. 

A low pressure system that had been producing scattered showers and thunderstorms, with periods of heavy downpours, over the Southeast and southern Plains would remain over the lower Mississippi River Valley and slightly move northward into the mid-Mississippi River Valley. This system was forecast to continue pulling ample moisture in from the Gulf of Mexico, feeding this system to produce yet another day of strong storms and heavy rainfall. Heaviest rainfall amounts were expected to develop over Arkansas and were expected to track westward around the system, reaching into Oklahoma by evening. Rainfall totals were expected to be within 1-2 inches in these areas, while widespread scattered showers extending into the Tennessee Valley and Mid-Atlantic states would produce less than a half an inch of rain.

In the North, a dominating high pressure system would also remain stagnant Wednesday as it hovered over the Great Lakes and Northeast. This would allow for mostly sunny skies to persist over most of the North, while flow around this system would pull cool and dry air in from Canada. Without cloud cover, this would allow for overnight lows to drop to near freezing temperatures. Chilly days and cool nights were expected as the first taste of autumn hit the Great Lakes region.

Out West, a low pressure system was forecast to sit over the central Plains and slightly move southeastward throughout the day. The system was expected to continue kicking up scattered showers and thunderstorms, but they were not expected to turn severe. The only significant changing weather pattern over the U.S. would be in the Pacific Northwest on Wednesday as a low pressure system quickly pushed a cold front onshore. This would kick up light rain, while also pushing a few clouds over California.

Temperatures in the Lower 48 states Tuesday ranged from a low of 30 degrees at Truckee-Tahoe, Calif., to a high of 102 degrees at McAllen, Texas.

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[Associated Press article from Weather Underground]

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