The Nation's Weather 08.03.08

By WEATHER UNDERGROUND

A large ridge of high pressure was expected to continue to bring stiflingly hot weather Sunday to the middle portion of the country. Widespread temperatures in the 90s and 100s were forecast for the Plains and the Lower Mississippi Valley.

Rain was expected along the Gulf Coast as a tropical low pressure system moves westward toward southern Texas. Showers and thunderstorms were forecast for the parts of the Southwest.

Rain also was forecast for New England as an upper-level low pressure system sweeps through eastern Canada and the Northeast.

The West Coast was expecting mostly clear skies.

Temperatures in the Lower 48 states Saturday ranged from a low of 36 degrees at Stanley, Idaho, to a high of 120 degrees at Death Valley, Calif.