National Weather Summary for Wednesday, June 24, 2009
NATIONAL WEATHER SUMMARY:
In the East, a cluster of strong to severe thunderstorms in
central and southern Florida caused damage across the peninsula
through the day. Severe thunderstorms generated wind gusts of 70
mph in Plantation, Fla. and wind gusts of 60 mph in Miami Lakes,
Fla. this morning. A wind gust of 70 mph was observed in Fort
Lauderdale and reportedly knocked over a mango tree, and struck a
house 250 feet from the tree with mangoes. Rainfall of 1 to 2
inches was common with these storms as well. Elsewhere, a low
pressure system produced a few light showers in eastern New
England. Rainfall was generally 0.20 inches or less. Daytime
heating led to scattered thunderstorms developing over the
Tennessee Valley and much of the Southeast during the late morning
and early afternoon hours.
In the central United States, thunderstorms developed over
western Nebraska and rumbled across the northern Plains. Some of
these storms became severe and caused damage through Nebraska,
southeastern South Dakota, southern Minnesota, and much of Iowa. A
severe storm in Ellsworth, Neb. produced wind gusts as high as 73
mph during the pre-dawn hours, and another severe storm produced
destructive wind gusts of 81 mph in Alliance, Neb. during the
pre-dawn hours as well. This resulted in large branches being blown
off trees and multiple shingles being torn off houses. Activity
moved east into Minnesota during the late morning hours. Storms
then blossomed over Iowa and produced widespread wind gusts of
60-70 mph and estimated speeds up to 80 mph. In Cedar Rapids, Iowa,
reports of downed trees came in across the city with large portions
of the city losing power. Late day storms also knocked out power in
the Omaha, Neb.-area where an estimated 6,800 people lost power.
Any power outages were further complicated by the oppressive heat
as warm and muggy weather prevailed across the entire central
Today in the West, an upper-level disturbance produced a few thunderstorms in southern Arizona and southern New Mexico. These storms did not become severe and produced modest amounts of rain. Some severe storms triggered late in the day over portions of
northern Colorado and southeastern Wyoming. Sadly, someone lost
their life in Crook, Colo. as a wind gust blew over a semi trailer
and caused an accident. Winds in the area were estimated in the
60-65 mph range. Otherwise mainly quiet weather was experienced
across the West with only a few light showers observed along the
Washington and Oregon coasts late in the day with minor rainfall
WEATHER EXTREMES FOR TUESDAY:
HIGHEST TEMPERATURE (DEGREES F)............113 Death Valley,
HIGHEST HEAT INDEX (DEGREES F).............113 Death Valley,
LOWEST TEMPERATURE (DEGREES F)..............24 Stanley, Idaho
LOWEST WIND CHILL (DEGREES F)...............24 Stanley, Idaho
HIGHEST WIND GUST (MPH).....................81 Alliance, Neb.
HIGHEST PRECIPITATION (INCHES)............4.94 Hollywood, Fla.
ON THIS DATE IN HISTORY:
In 1946 - 11.72 inches of rain fell at Mellen, Wis. in a 24 hour period. This is the greatest 24 hour rain ever recorded in the
state. There was flooding on the Bad and White Rivers.
In 1952 - Hail up to 10 inches in circumference was reported in South Dakota. The large hailstones killed livestock and many people were hurt.
In 1991 - Three and a half inches of rain fell in 28 minutes in Scranton, N.D. One and a half foot drifts of marble size hail were
also reported and front end loaders were needed to clear the streets.
Filed by: DTN/Meteorlogix