Wet and cool conditions persisted across the Great Lakes and Northeast on Saturday as a strong low pressure system continued spinning north of the Great Lakes.
Counter-clockwise flow around this system picked up moisture from the lakes and pushed rain showers into the southeastern shores. Heaviest rainfall associated with this system was reported in northern Ohio and upstate New York.
Thunderstorms developed over the region, some of which created heavy rainfall and strong winds. Large trees were blown down in Watertown, N.Y., and a midday total of 1.26 inches of rain was reported in Dunkirk, N.Y. A slight risk of severe weather development was issued for the Northeast from New York through Maryland.
Meanwhile, the back side of this system continued to pull cool and dry air in from Canada. This brought cooler conditions to the Northern Plains and Upper Midwest. Frost and freeze advisories remained in effect in these areas as overnight lows dipped into the mid-20s. Some areas dropped into the upper teens in the early morning hours. Hazen, N.D., reported a low temperature of 15 degrees.
In the South, showers and thunderstorms continued across the peninsula of Florida as the tail end of a cold front slowly pushed away from the region. This system allowed for onshore flow to continue from the Gulf of Mexico, which produced more thunderstorm activity. A midday total of 3.04 inches of rain was reported in Miami.
In the West, a low pressure system moved into the Pacific Northwest from the Pacific Ocean. This system brought moisture onshore with it and produced cloudy skies with widespread rain showers across Oregon and Washington. A few isolated thunderstorms developed in the afternoon and evening hours.
SATURDAY'S WEATHER EXTREMES:
HIGHEST TEMPERATURE (DEGREES F).........................102 Imperial, Calif.
HIGHEST HEAT INDEX (DEGREES F)..........................102 Tampa Macdill AFB, Fla.
LOWEST TEMPERATURE (DEGREES F)..........................15 Hazen, N.D.
LOWEST WIND CHILL (DEGREES F)...........................10 Rugby, N.D.
HIGHEST WIND GUST (MPH).................................62 Portage Glacier, Alaska
HIGHEST PRECIPITATION (INCHES)..........................3.04 Miami, Fla.
ON THIS DATE....... On this date in 1890, a severe hailstorm hit Strawberry, Ariz. The size of the hailstones went unreported, but it was said that 5 days after the storm, hail remained 1-1.5 feet deep in some parts of the town.
The Associated Press