Storms Batter Montana, Cool Air Remains in Northwest
7/7/2009 11:04 AM
Thunderstorms developed across much of Idaho and Montana on Monday night, thanks to a cool, moist air mass. Cool air lingering across the Pacific
Northwest will continue to spark more showers and keep temperatures below normal through Wednesday.
Elsewhere across the West, temperatures dropped slightly below average Monday night but will rebound Wednesday and thereafter.
Severe thunderstorms ripped through parts of Montana on Monday evening. Reports of
pea- to golf ball-sized hail and wind damage were widespread across the Treasure State. Two isolated tornadoes were also reported to have touched
down near Glasgow in Valley and Roosevelt counties.
The temperature changes will be quite noticeable behind an exiting
storm
system. Highs will follow an unseasonably cool pattern, making it feel more like autumn. High temperatures for the region will stay in the low to
mid-70s across
the Northwest, lasting until
Wednesday. A few places like
Seattle may not escape the 60s
again Wednesday.
Some spotty showers and thunderstorms may be problematic through Wednesday thanks to a moist
onshore flow in wake of Monday's
storm system.
However, building
high pressure will begin to relieve most of the Western
states of their autumnal, cool spell. Temperatures will begin rising back into the 80s and 90s for most northern regions Thursday. Most locations can
expect 80-degree weather to return for what should be a
beautiful
weekend.
Seasonable weather will remain across Southern California's deserts and western and central Arizona. After a slight dip through the middle of
the week, temperatures will climb across the southern region late in the week. Some locations like
Phoenix, Ariz., may top 110 degrees by the weekend.
As
high pressure strengthens its hold across
the Southwest from midweek on, precipitation will be
held to a minimum. The monsoon thunderstorms will be shut out of much of the region through the week.
Story by AccuWeather.com's Max Thompson
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