The Nation's Weather 09.12.09

By WEATHER UNDERGROUND (AP)

Active weather will persist over the East Coast on Saturday as an area of low pressure lingers offshore. Flow around this system will pull moisture in from the Atlantic Ocean, producing heavy rain, gusty winds and minor coastal flooding over New England, the Mid-Atlantic States and into the Northeast. Rainfall between 1-2 inches are expected.

To the south, another area of low pressure will continue spinning off the Texas coast in the Gulf of Mexico. This system will be stronger as it gains strength from the warm waters of the Gulf and will trigger heavy showers and thunderstorms over eastern Texas and most of the Southeast.

Coastal flooding will remain a threat over these areas due to the slow moving system with intense downpours expected. Also expect strong, damaging winds over the region.

Meanwhile in the Central part of the country, a trough of low pressure will move off the Rockies and into the Plains. This will create an elongated front that will stretch from the Upper Midwest and across the Central and Southern Plains. Scattered showers and thunderstorms are expected to pop up anywhere along this front.

In the West, a ridge of high pressure will continue dominating the weather along the West Coast. Thus, expect warm and dry conditions to persist.

Temperatures in the Lower 48 states Friday ranged from a low of 30 degrees at Yellowstone, Wyo. to a high of 111 degrees at El Centro, Calif.