Southcentral

Weather Underground midday recap for Thursday, August 21, 2008.

Tropical Storm Fay continued to exasperate residents of Florida as the storm spent its fourth day over the state on Thursday. Fay's extended engagement with Florida allowed some extraordinary rainfall totals to occur. More than 20 inches of rainfall reportedly fell north and west of Melbourne with widespread reports of more than 10 inches of precipitation across the Florida Peninsula. As a result of the heavy tropical rains across Florida, flood watches and warnings were posted for most of the state. In addition to heavy rain, strong onshore winds across northern Florida and coastal Georgia brought higher than normal tides and large waves which lead to some minor to moderate beach erosion.

Outside of the Southeast, the nation's weather was much more pleasant on Thursday. High pressure in the Northeast brought clear skies and moderate temperatures to the region, while a trough moving through the Plains triggered cloud cover and a few thunderstorms from the Great Lakes down the Mississippi Valley and into southern Texas.

High pressure was also responsible for clear skies over much of the West. Along with the clear skies, moderate temperatures made the day pleasant for some of the normally sweltering regions of the Southwest.

Temperatures were even cooler in the Northwest where a weak weather system pushing into Idaho brought cloud cover and strong winds off the Pacific.

Temperatures in the Lower 48 states Thursday have ranged from a morning low of 35 degrees at Kremmling, Colo to a midday high of 106 degrees at Needles, Calif.