National Weather Summary for August 31,2013

Weather Underground midday recap for Saturday,August 31,2013.






Multiple areas of active weather developed across the nation on Saturday. In the North, a low pressure system moved eastward across central Canada and flow around this system created a warm front that stretched from northern Minnesota and eastward into the Great Lakes. At the same time, the system also created a cold front that stretched southward across the Dakotas. This cold front also moved eastward throughout the day and slowly made its way into the upper Midwest. Due to flow around these systems pulling moisture in from the South, there was a slight chance of severe thunderstorm development in these areas with threats of strong winds, hail, and periods of heavy rainfall.

Meanwhile in the East, another low pressure system moved from the Great Lakes and over the Northeast, creating a front that stretched from the Northeast, down the Ohio River valley, and into the Midwest. As this front slid southward throughout the day, it also kicked up scattered showers and thunderstorms. Rainfall totals from this system approached 2 inches in many locations. Strong winds blew multiple trees down across parts of Ohio and Kentucky.

Out West, moisture over the desert Southwest spread northward over the Great Basin and into the Intermountain West and Northern Rockies. This allowed for showers and thunderstorms to expand northward across most of the Western states. Flooding remained a concern across the desert locations, as dry surface conditions are not capable of absorbing periods of heavy rainfall. Thus, flood advisories remained in effect from southern California through southern Nevada, into Utah, and across parts of Arizona.