Conditions will slowly improve over the central Plains today, while rain shifts to the lower and mid-Mississippi Valley. The storm behind the rain will tap into tropical moisture before inundating the Eastern Seaboard Friday into the weekend.

Snow-relating warnings remain in effect across the central Plains this morning. Snow and strong winds continue over central Nebraska and northwestern Kansas on the backside of a potent storm.

The Midwest Regional News story reports conditions will slowly improve today. The snow will taper to spottier showers, some falling as rain, as drier air circulates around the storm. Winds will also gradually subside.

Powerful and chilly winds howled across the High Plains on Wednesday, peaking at the following speeds:

• McCook, Neb.: 64 mph
• Hill City, Kan.: 61 mph
• Wray, Colo.: 59 mph
• Broken Bow, Neb.: 56 mph

Rain will continue to pour down along the leading edge of the storm today. The slow-moving rain will make for a wet day across the lower and mid-Mississippi Valley. Flight delays could ensue in St. Louis, Mo., and Memphis, Tenn.

A tropical low over the Gulf of Mexico will become a new source of moisture for the storm beyond today. The AccuWeather.com Hurricane Center reports strong wind shear generated by the storm will prevent the low from developing tropically.

The combination of the storm and the tropical low will bring drenching rain to the South tonight into Friday night. The rain will come down heavily at times, potentially causing localized flooding in low-lying and poor drainage areas.

Despite the threat of flooding, the South Regional News story states the rain will generally be welcome. The United States Drought Monitor reported last week that places from the southern Appalachians to Georgia continue to suffer from a severe to exceptional drought.

The soaking rain will reach the eastern Great Lakes and mid-Atlantic on Saturday, then New England Saturday night into Sunday morning. The rain could delay Game 3 of the World Series Saturday evening, when the Philadelphia Phillies host the Tampa Bay Rays.

The East Regional News story states that the rain will be accompanied by gusty winds over the mid-Atlantic and New England. The winds will howl as the pressure gradient between the storm and the high pressure currently over the Northeast tightens.

The strongest winds, gusting between 40 and 60 mph, will batter the coastline. The winds will drive the ocean water toward the shore, likely leading to coastal flooding at the time of high tide.

The rain throughout the Eastern Seaboard starting tonight threatens to slow travel both on the ground and in the air. Motorists should be prepared for the rain's runoff to pond on roadways and visibility to drop during drenching downpours. Wet leaves will create slick roadways.

The rain produced by the storm on Wednesday went down in history books across the central Plains. Lincoln, Neb., exceeded its previous daily rainfall record of 1.21 inches from 1972 with 2.01 inches. With 3.70 inches, Houston, Texas, broke its record of 2.40 inches from 1920.

A persistent influx of moisture from the tropical low brought 7.30 inches of rain to Key West, Fla., on Wednesday. The old daily rainfall record of 2.54 inches from 1898 was easily shattered. Wednesday is now the city's eleventh wettest day on record.

As the storm drenches the Eastern Seaboard, temperatures will nicely rebound over the nation's midsection. The mild weather will not last long with a new storm set to drop from Canada this weekend.

Noticeably colder air with blustery winds adding to the chill will blast the northern Plains and Upper Midwest this weekend. The cold shot will pour into the Northeast by early next week. Expert Meteorologist Elliot Abrams states that could trigger the first significant lake-effect snow event of the season.