US

Weather Underground midday recap for Thursday, September 02, 2010.

Hurricane Earl has reduced in strength to a category 3 storm with maximum sustained winds at 125 mph and located about 245 miles south of Cape Hatteras North Carolina. The system has pushed some clouds and scattered showers over the coasts of the Carolinas, but significant rainfall and winds have not yet developed. To the North, high pressure hovered over the Northeast and New England, which allowed for sunny skies and warm conditions. Highs reached into the 80s and 90s across the region.

Meanwhile in the Central US, a low pressure system tracked eastward along the Canadian border and created a cold front that stretched down the Mississippi River Valley. This system kicked up moderate to heavy showers and thunderstorms, which turned severe in some areas. Rainfall totals ranged from 1-2 inches across the Upper and Mid-Mississippi Valley, with 3.80 inches reported in Marshall, Minnesota. Large hail developed across much of Kansas, with nickel to quarter size hail reported in Hoisington, Kansas. Strong winds blew down multiple trees in Esadore Lake, Wisconsin. Temperatures dropped as this front passed with highs reaching to near 70 across the Upper Midwest and Northern Plains. However, the Central and Southern Plains remained hot with highs in the 80s and 90s.

In the West, warm and dry weather persisted due to a dominating ridge of high pressure. The deserts of the Southwest and southern California reached into the 100s, thus, an Excessive Heat Warning has been issued over the area.

Temperatures in the Lower 48 states Thursday have ranged from a morning low of 27 degrees at Yellowstone, Wyo. to a midday high of 107 degrees at Yuma MCAS, Ariz.