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[May 28, 2011]  (AP)  An elongated trough of low pressure was expected to bring more active weather to the central United States on Saturday. The system was projected to continue tracking along the U.S. and Canadian border, but expected to create a strong cold front stretching southward, moving over the Mississippi River Valley.

(Click on map for larger image.)

Widespread scattered rain showers were to develop along this front, with thunderstorms popping up in the afternoon and evening hours. As this system pulls ample moisture in from the Gulf of Mexico, there was a slight risk that these storms would turn severe across the Midwest and mid-Mississippi River Valley.

Periods of heavy downpours, large hail and damaging winds in areas of severe storm development were expected.

In the East, a few showers and thunderstorms were projected to linger along the Eastern Seaboard. A slow-moving low pressure system and associated frontal boundary was expected to continue moving northeastward and away from the region. A few more showers were expected in the Northeast.

Out West, a low pressure system that pushed a cold front over the Pacific Northwest was kicking up another round of widespread scattered showers on Saturday. A few of these showers was to reach into northern California as the system moved southeastward into the Intermountain West and Great Basin by evening. The northern and central Rockies were to remain under flood advisories due to the combination of these rain showers and seasonal snowmelt.

In the South, another hot and dry day was forecast. Low humidity and strong surface winds were to create favorable conditions for rapid fire growth and spread.

Temperatures in the Lower 48 states Friday ranged from a morning low of 23 degrees at Yellowstone, Wyo., to a high of 109 degrees in Laredo, Texas.

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[Associated Press article from Weather Underground]

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 This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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