Weather Summary
Sunday, July 6, 2008 4 A.M. Eastern
NATIONAL SUMMARY
An upper-level low over northern Mexico and an influx on tropical
moisture from the western Gulf of Mexico brought heavy rain and
thunderstorms to South Texas again on Saturday. Some parts of the Rio
Grande Valley received upwards of two inches of rain on Saturday
alone. The storms farther north in Texas and along the Gulf bend of
the state were more widely separated and dropped lighter rainfall
amounts. The remainder of the Gulf states and the lower Mississippi
Valley also had thunderstorms with the warm and humid surge to the
south of a stalled frontal boundary over the mid-Atlantic to the
northern Tennessee Valley. Some of these storms produced locally
flooding downpours, large hail and gusty winds. A funnel cloud was
even spotted near Alma, Ga., indicating very powerful, rotating
thunderstorms. Storms also produced heavy rain and hail over the
Carolinas, where winds were recorded at up to 60 mph. Southern New
England and the mid-Atlantic to the northern Tennessee Valley had
spottier storms that did not become strong. High pressure shifted
east from the Great Lakes toward northern New England, promoting dry
and comfortable conditions. Temperatures from the Great Lakes to
northern New England rose into the upper 70s and lower 80s with some
sunshine.
Another storm pressed across the Canadian Prairies with a trailing
cold front across the northern Plains. The cold front triggered
strong storms from the northern to central Plains. Nebraska was the
hardest hit with heavy rounds of storms that forced streams to
baneful and caused street flooding. Some places received more than
half of a foot of rain from heavy storms that continued into
Saturday. Strong winds and large hail were also reported with these
storms. Meanwhile, dry air maintained its grip over much of the West,
while a few showers pressed into western Washington.
A LOOK AT THE NATIONAL WEATHER MAP
As of early Sunday morning, a stationary front snaked over the
mid-Atlantic coast into northern Virginia, where it was attached to a
warm front draped across Ohio to southern Michigan. A potent low
pressure system (29.32 inches) was located over eastern Manitoba,
Canada. A warm front extended to the east of this low to the Hudson
Bay. The associated cold front extended across the eastern Dakotas to
northwestern Nebraska. Another low (29.77 inches) was situated over
eastern British Columbia.
SPECIAL WEATHER
Tropical Surge into Texas:
--An upper-level low over northern Mexico and plenty of tropical
moisture available over the western Gulf has brought heavy rain and
thunderstorms from the northern Bay of Campeche to the Rio Grande
Valley of South Texas. The heaviest rain was dropped during the
afternoon and evening as daytime heating stirred the atmosphere.
Areas that have been plagued by very dry conditions the past couple
of months have received one to three inches of rain over the past two
days with even higher amounts locally. To put this into perspective,
Brownsville, Texas, has received 3.34 inches over the 48-hour period
ending at 1 a.m. CDT, more than doubling this year's May and June
rainfall combined. This amount is also nearly double the normal July
rainfall. The heavy rain will continue over the southern tip of Texas
through the end of the weekend and even into the beginning of the
week. Localized flooding could occur with more rain falling over
places that are already saturated.
WEATHER HIGHLIGHTS BY ACCU WEATHER
Severe Weather Reports on Saturday:
-A funnel cloud was sighted three miles west of Valentine, Neb.,
during the afternoon. Five minutes later it touched down briefly as a
tornado two miles west of the town.
-Golf ball-sized hail hit near Gresham, Neb.
-Georgia law enforcement reported a funnel cloud at exit 20 on
Interstate 95 in Brunswick, Ga.
-Penny-sized hail was reported just north of Alma, Ga. The hail
lasted 15 minutes and the winds were estimated to at least 70 mph.
-Golf ball-sized hail hammered near Hernando, Miss.
-Half-dollar-sized hail covered the ground near Andrews, S.C.
Heavy Rainfall Reports and Resultant Flooding:
-Many farm roads were under water as all the drainage ditches were at
bankful near Duncan, Miss. More than 4 inches of rain fell at Round
Lake in just two hours.
-Numerous streets were flooded in the city of Ashboro, N.C., after
heavy thunderstorms passed through the area.
-Several roadways were flooded in Story, Ark., during the afternoon.
-Several inches of water was reported over State Highway 94 near
Dublin, Ala.
-Over 4 inches of rain inundated near North Bend, Neb., and caused
considerable flooding in fields early in the morning. Water was over
county roads, while Silver Creek was out of its bank.
-Morning storms dropped 6.48 inches of rain near Friend, Neb., and
5.75 inches of rain near Waco, Neb.
-Fairbury, Neb., received 4.06 inches of rain in about 6 hours.
Heavy Texas Rainfall in 48 hrs. ending at 1 a.m. CDT:
Weslaco, TX 2.93"
McAllen, TX 1.57"
Harlingen, TX 2.60"
Edinburg, TX 1.56"
Brownsville, TX 3.34"
Port Isabel, TX 3.33"
Kingsville, TX 0.44"
Hebronville, TX 1.06"
Thunderstorm Wind Gusts on Saturday (mph):
Northwoods Mall, SC 60
North Charleston, SC 60
Pawleys Island, SC 60
Slovak, AR 49
Meridian, MS 45
Key West, FL 48
Biddle, MT 65
Rockypoint, WY 68
24-hour Rainfall ending at 2 a.m. EDT:
Roanoke Rapids, NC 2.56"
Chapel Hill, NC 2.46"
Brunswick, GA 2.30"
Wrightstown, NJ 2.14"
Burlington, NC 1.86"
Bentonville, AR 1.84"
Evergreen, AL 1.77"
Albany, GA 1.60"
DAILY EXTREMES
National High yesterday 120 at Death Valley, California
National Low yesterday 29 at Bodie State Park, California
WEATHER HISTORY
1819
Buffalo, N.Y.: A 13-inch herring that weighed 9 oz. fell from the sky
on to Main St.
1883
Pikes Peak, Colo.: A snowstorm dropped 18 inches of snow on the
summit.
1901
Philadelphia, Pa.: This was the last of 12 straight days with
temperatures 90 degrees or above.
1962
Ashley, N.D.: A herd of 76 cows was hurled through the air by a
tornado; 68 of them died.
1989
Cobb County, Ga.: Northern parts of the county were deluged by 8.85
inches of rain in just 13 hours, ending at 9:00 a.m. EDT. Serious
flooding resulted across northern Georgia.
2008 AccuWeather, Inc., 385 Science Park Road, State College, PA
2008 AccuWeather, Inc.
Weather Graphics and Data © AccuWeather, Inc.