The Nation's Weather 09.03.08

By WEATHER UNDERGROUND

Tropical Depression Gustav was expected to slowly weaken Wednesday as it moved northwestward into eastern Texas. Gustav was to remain a tropical depression and cause severe local storms, heavy rains and high winds. It was expected to cause flooding in parts of the lower Mississippi Valley and northeastern Texas.

To the southeast of Florida, Tropical Storm Hanna was expected to remain a tropical storm throughout Wednesday as it moved northwestward. Hanna was expected to strengthen to a Category 1 hurricane later in the week, as it moves closer to Florida. The state is likely to see increasing winds and heavy rains as Hanna approaches.

Along the East Coast, fair conditions were expected to persist and patchy clouds were to keep the Northeast coast cool.

Meanwhile, showers and possible thunderstorms were expected from the Great Lakes through the Central Plains and into the Southwest.

The West Coast was to see warm and dry conditions.

Temperatures in the Lower 48 states on Tuesday ranged from 25 degrees at McCall, Idaho, to 105 degrees at Thermal, Calif.