Midwest

Weather Underground Forecast for Friday, July 04, 2008.

A trough over the Pacific Northwest will trigger cloudy conditions, as well as showers and thunderstorms throughout the region on Friday. Some of the storms over Montana and northern Idaho could turn severe. These storms could produce damaging winds, large hail, and possibly tornadoes in the afternoon. Temperatures across the Northwest will mostly be in the 60s and 70s, with some 80s inland.

In the Northeast, the Mid-Atlantic states and the Ohio Valley will see mostly cloudy skies along with some showers and thunderstorms due to a lingering front across the region. None of the storms are expected to be severe, but they could still produce moderate to heavy rain across areas that are already flooded from previous storms. New England will remain clear due to the presence of high pressure.

The Southeast will see seasonable afternoon showers and thunderstorms along the coast on Friday due to onshore flow. The more inland areas could see some thunderstorms as a result of the lingering front, which extends through Arkansas and Tennessee. Temperatures will mostly be in the 90s across the region.

The Northern Plains and the Great Lakes will see clear skies on Friday as high pressure builds in behind the front. Temperatures will be cooler as cold air behind the front moves in, and highs across the region are only expected to reach the 70s. Meanwhile, a ridge will keep the rest of the Plains hot and dry, with the exception of possible scattered thunderstorms across the Southern Plains. Temperatures will range in the 80s up to around 100 degrees

The Southwest will can expect the usual dry and hot condition on Friday, except for scattered thunderstorms across the Four Corners. Temperatures will be in the 90s and 100s, with 110s in the hottest areas.

Temperatures in the Lower 48 states Thursday ranged from a low of 32 degrees at Guthrie, Okla to a high of 111 degrees at Needles, Calif.