The Nation's Weather 09.19.08

By WEATHER UNDERGROUND

Rain troubled the West Coast and Gulf Coast region early Friday, while high pressure kept skies sunny from the Northeast to the Plains.

Scattered showers and isolated thunderstorms were expected in the Southeast. A front extending through the Gulf of Mexico will trigger showers over areas of the Gulf Coast and southeastern Florida. Showers and possible thunderstorms are expected to spread northward into the lower Mississippi Valley by late Friday evening.

To the north, high pressure over the Northeast will keep conditions dry across New England and portions of the Midwest. There is a chance for rain over areas of the Upper Mississippi Valley throughout the day.

To the west, rain showers and scattered thunderstorms were expected over the Four Corners region. Mostly clear conditions are expected for the Southwest.

A low pressure system moving toward the Pacific Northwest was to instigate showers over northwestern California. The system will push cool air from the Pacific across the West Coast and will keep temperatures cool with fog along the coast.

Temperatures in the Lower 48 states on Thursday ranged from a low of 26 degrees at Mount Washington, N.H., to a high of 108 degrees at Death Valley, Calif.