The Nation's Weather 08.13.09

By WEATHER UNDERGROUND (AP)

A stationary cold front was forecast to continue kicking up wet weather over the Eastern part of the country Thursday.

A trough of low pressure lingering over the East Coast would continue to produce a stationary front that would extend from the Virginias, through the Carolinas, and into the Gulf States. Scattered showers and thunderstorms along this front were expected as ample Gulf moisture pours in from the South. Rainfall totals were forecast to remain near a half of an inch in most areas, with more anticipated in areas of thunderstorm development.

Meanwhile, behind this system, a strong ridge of high pressure was to continue building over the Plains and Mississippi River Valley, extending over the Great Lakes on Thursday. This would allow for mostly sunny skies and mild weather to persist. Highs were expected to approach 90 in the Northern Plains and Upper Midwest, while the Southern Plains were to see another day in the mid-90s to 100s.

Out West, a trough over the Pacific Northwest would allow for mostly cloudy skies that might produce scattered showers. Cooler conditions were expected with highs in the 70s and would push into the Northern Rockies throughout the day. Elsewhere in the West, California and the Southwest were forecast to remain hot and dry as high pressure hovers over the deserts.

Temperatures in the Lower 48 states Wednesday ranged from a low of 35 degrees at Leadville, Colo., to a high of 109 degrees at Blythe, Calif.