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[June 30, 2010] (AP) Alex was expected to pound southern Texas on Wednesday and Thursday with heavy rains and strong winds.

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The Category 1 hurricane was forecast to keep its strength in the western Gulf of Mexico on Wednesday as it tracked west-northwestward toward the Mexico and Texas border. Landfall was expected Wednesday night or early Thursday near the border. Thunderstorms containing heavy rain were expected to increase as Alex approached. Rainfall totals were expected in the 4- to 8-inch range across southern Texas and 6- to 10-plus range in the lower valley for Wednesday and Thursday morning. Winds were expected to increase to 40 to 50 mph with gusts to around 60 mph Wednesday afternoon. Overnight gusts could reach as high as 75 mph before subsiding Thursday afternoon.

Farther north, from the Mid-Atlantic to the southern Plains, a stationary front combined with plenty of Gulf moisture would keep widely scattered showers and thunderstorms going. The heaviest rain was likely to fall from near where Alex makes landfall to the western Florida Peninsula along the Gulf Coast.

In the Northeast, cooling was in store for the Great Lakes, Ohio Valley and Northeast on Wednesday after a cold front pushed through. Moisture wrapping around the low pressure system in the north would trigger scattered showers and thunderstorms in parts of the eastern Great Lakes and northern New England. Otherwise, mostly sunny skies with mild temperatures were expected.

Out West, a trough of low pressure would move across the Northwest, with a cold front slowly pushing through the northern high Plains. This would result in continued showers and thunderstorms from the northern Rockies to northern Plains. Pockets of afternoon showers and thunderstorms were also possible in other parts of the Rockies.

Temperatures in the Lower 48 states Tuesday ranged from a low of 33 degrees at Silver Bay, Minn., to a high of 120 degrees at Death Valley, Calif.

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Online:

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]