The Nation's Weather 07.04.08

By WEATHER UNDERGROUND

A wet Independence Day was forecast for much of the nation, with showers and thunderstorms projected for the Pacific Northwest, the mid-Atlantic, the Ohio Valley and the Southeast. Clear skies were expected over the northern Plains, the Great Lakes and the Southwest.

Storms over Montana and northern Idaho could turn severe, producing damaging winds, large hail and possibly tornadoes. Temperatures across the Northwest were expected to be mostly in the 60s and 70s, with some 80s inland.

A lingering front across the Northeast could produce moderate to heavy rain across areas already flooded from previous storms. Seasonable storms were forecast for the Southeast, where temperatures were expected to be mostly in the 90s.

While likely clear, the northern Plains and the Great Lakes were expected to be cool, with highs predicted to only reach the 70s. The southern Plains could see scattered thunderstorms, though the rest of the Plains were expected to be hot and dry. Temperatures were likely to range from the 80s to around 100 degrees.

Except for scattered thunderstorms across the Four Corners, the Southwest was expected to be hot and dry, with temperatures in the 90s, 100s and 110s.

Temperatures in the Lower 48 states Thursday ranged from a low of 32 degrees at Guthrie, Okla., to a high of 111 degrees at Needles, Calif.