Weather Summary
Friday, May 16, 2008 3 P.M. Eastern
NATIONAL SUMMARY
The area of damaging thunderstorms shrunk in size compared to recent
weeks Thursday into Friday with a few big storms firing along the
Gulf coast Friday morning. Heavy rain has lead to flooding problems
in portions of the central Gulf of Mexico coast, as well as the Ohio
Valley. Rainfall has exceeded 5 inches in parts of the Deep South
from the train of thunderstorms, while rainfall of 1 to 2 inches on
average has caused minor flooding problems up north. A marked
temperature contrast set up across the nation Thursday and Friday
with highs in the 40s, 50s and 60s in the Great Lakes area and in
parts of the Northeast, compared to highs in the 80s, 90s and low
100s in the Pacific Coast states. Temperatures were 10 to 20 degrees
blow normal in the Northeast, while departures were 10 to 20 degrees
higher than normal in the West. The worst of the heat wave was
expected Friday and Saturday, while the worst of the chill was
expected in the Northeast over the weekend. The heat in the West was
leading to rapid snow melt in the higher elevations, where a risk of
avalanches exists and swift currents in mountain streams pose an
elevated risk for white water recreation. Much of the Plains, in
comparison to recent weeks, enjoyed moderate temperatures and quiet
weather conditions Friday.
A LOOK AT THE NATIONAL WEATHER MAP
As of 12:00 noon...Low pressure (29.53 inches) was located over the
eastern West Virginia Panhandle. A cold front trailed this low to the
northwest Gulf of Mexico and into northeastern Mexico. A stationary
front extended to the east of the West Virginia low into Atlantic
Ocean waters south of Long Island, New York. A cold front extended
from south of Hudson Bay in Canada to northern Michigan and northern
Minnesota. High pressure (30.30 inches) was located over southern
Colorado with a second center (30.30 inches) located over western
Montana.
SPECIAL WEATHER
Gulf Coast Deluge
--The same weather system responsible for over 10 inches of rain in
northwestern Louisiana Wednesday, traveled eastward Thursday and
drowned portions of the central Gulf of Mexico coast area with heavy
rain and flooding problems. Nearly 8 inches of rain fell in a 24-hour
period on the Delta National Forest in Mississippi. Almost 7 inches
of rain fell on the Lake Providence area of Louisiana. Rainfall
amounts of 3 to 6 inches were common in southwestern Mississippi and
southeastern Louisiana. During the 36-hour period ending at noon
Friday, CDT, nearly 3.5 inches of rain fell on New Orleans with
Pascagoula, Miss., picking up nearly 6 inches during the same period.
WEATHER HIGHLIGHTS BY ACCU WEATHER
Severe Weather Reports...
--A powerful thunderstorm swept through parts of Hidalgo County,
Texas, early Friday morning. Twenty mobile homes were damaged and
five were destroyed. Six people were taken to the hospital with
injuries.
--Thunderstorm winds gusted to 86 mph at Harlingen, Texas, early
Friday morning and damaged several buildings.
--Flooding from heavy rain overnight was occurring in Gallatin
County, Ky., Highland County, Ohio, and Ripley and Dearborn counties
in Indiana with several county roads under water.
Sampling of Record Highs Set Thursday....Old (Deg.) Year...New
(Deg.)...
Eureka, Calif........... 75/2006, New 80
Paradise, Calif......Tied/1987, New 92
Grants Pass, Ore.:..96/2000, New 98
Ashland, Ore........Tied/1895, New 93
Tillamook, Ore........ 77/1985, New 84
Troutdale, Ore.......87/2006, New 88
Montague, Ore....... 90/1973, New 94
Klamath Falls, Ore...84/2006, New 85
Medford, Ore.......... 96/2006, New 98
Shasta City, Ore.....87/2006, New 88
Rainfall (Inches) From 12 a.m. Thursday to 12 noon Friday (CDT)....
New Orleans, La. 3.44
Lafayette, La. 2.67
Baton Rouge, La. 2.66
Lake Charles, La. 2.44
Acadiana, La. 1.98
Crestview, Fla. 2.46
Pensacola, Fla. 1.86
Tallahassee, Fla. 1.43
Pascagoula, Miss. 5.93
Meridian, Miss. 4.28
Jackson, Miss. 3.66
Biloxi, Miss. 2.75
Hattiesburg, Miss. 2.57
Tuscaloosa, Ala. 3.80
Alabaster, Ala. 2.51
Birmingham, Ala. 1.93
Cincinnati, Ohio 2.02
Wilmington, Ohio 1.76
Lancaster, Ohio 1.48
Hamilton, Ohio 1.43
Louisville, Ky. 1.49
Lafayette, Ind. 1.27
Bloomington, Ind. 1.10
Carbondale, Ill. 1.09
DAILY EXTREMES
National High Today (through 3 p.m.) 99 at Bakersfield, California
National Low Today (through 3 p.m.) 20 at Leadville, Colorado
International High (last 24 hours) 119 at Pad Idan, Pakistan
International Low (last 24 hours) 7 at Danmarkshavn, Greenland
WEATHER HISTORY
1874
A dam slipped and gave way along Mill Creek in Northampton, Mass. The
flooding claimed the lives of 143 people and caused $1 million in
property damage.
1917
Lake Superior finally opened to navigation. It was the latest date
ever for this to happen.
1946
A severe hailstorm caused $5 million in damage and injured 20 people
in San Antonio, Texas.
1991
A large tornado tracked through the southwest side of Wichita,
Kansas. The storm destroyed a number of houses. Five-inch diameter
hail fell on other parts of town.
1996
A storm dropped 6.69 inches of rain on Three Peaks, Calif., over a
2-day period spanning May 15 to 16.
2008 AccuWeather, Inc., 385 Science Park Road, State College, PA
2008 AccuWeather, Inc.
Weather Graphics and Data © AccuWeather, Inc.