The nation's weather

[August 13, 2011]  (AP)  Plenty of active weather was forecast in parts of the eastern U.S. on Saturday, while hot and humid conditions were expected to persist in Texas and Gulf states.

As a trough of low pressure moved eastward, it was expected to push warm and moist air into the central U.S., which will move into the eastern valleys throughout the day. Scattered showers and thunderstorms were expected to develop over the Ohio and Tennessee valleys in the afternoon and evening hours. The storm systems have a history of producing heavy downpours, large hail and damaging winds associated with severe thunderstorms. Some storms have even produced a few tornadoes. Scattered thunderstorms were expected to develop anywhere from the Great Lakes to the lower Mississippi River.

In the South, hot and humid conditions were forecast across Texas and the Gulf states through the weekend as a persistent ridge hovers over the Southeast. Temperatures were expected to reach more than 100 degrees, with heat indexes up to 115.

In the East, a ridge of high pressure sitting in the North Atlantic Ocean was expected to produce sunny and dry conditions across most of the East Coast. However, onshore flow to the south was expected to push moisture over Florida, kicking up more widespread scattered showers and thunderstorms.

To the west, conditions remained quiet as high pressure dominated the West Coast and Great Basin. At the same time, a trough dipping in from the Gulf of Alaska was expected to bring weak onshore flow, producing morning fog and low clouds along the coast. However, monsoon moisture in the Southwest was expected to allow for more showers and thunderstorms to develop across the Four Corners.

Temperatures in the Lower 48 states Friday ranged from a morning low of 28 degrees at Stanley, Idaho, to a high of 105 degrees at Frederick, Okla.

___

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]

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 This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

---

• National Weather Service
  Storm Prediction Center outlooks, watches, warnings, advisories

• Lincoln office of the National Weather Service

• Illinois Department of Transportation map of road conditions

• Emergency Email Network links

  • Radar situation page
  • Regularly updated live radar maps
  • Severe weather map

Click the city for more up-to-the-minute weather information.

 

Chicago, Ill.

Minneapolis, Minn.

Orlando, Fla.

Albuquerque, N.M.

Denver, Colo.

New York, N.Y.

San Francisco, Calif.

Dallas, Texas