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Weather Underground Forecast for Friday, July 18, 2008.

A front extending from a system just to the north of the Great Lakes will move across the Central Plains on Friday. The front will trigger showers and thunderstorms across the Plains, and severe weather is possible. These storms will pack high winds and heavy rainfall, with hail and tornadoes possible with severe storms. Some showers and storms are also possible for the Northern and Southern Plains as well. Temperatures across the Plains will range from the 70s where the cold front has passed through to the 80s and 90s ahead of the front.

In the Northeast, a second front associated with the system north of the Great Lakes will produce a line of storms which will move through New England on Friday. There is the possibility of some of the storms turning severe. High pressure will keep conditions across the Mid-Atlantic mostly clear and pleasant. The ridge will extend down into the Southeast, keeping that region mostly clear as well, with the exception of Florida and up along the coast to the Carolinas, who will see showers and storms due to low pressure over Florida. Temperatures in the Northeast will reach the 70s and 80s in New England and the upper 80s to 90s in the warmest areas in the Mid-Atlantic. The Southeast will see 80s and 90s.

The Pacific Northwest will see mostly clear skies on Friday, while a small front kicks up showers and storms across Montana and Idaho. These storms have the potential to be severe, and could produce hail and tornadoes along with strong winds and heavy rain. . The Pacific Northwest should see temperatures in the 60s and 70s, with a few 80s inland.

The Southwest can expect seasonable thunderstorms associated with the Southwest monsoon season across the Rockies on Friday. California and Nevada will remain mostly sunny. Temperatures will be in the 80s through to the 100s, with the desert regions hitting 110.

Temperatures in the Lower 48 states Thursday ranged from a low of 37 degrees at Meacham, Ore to a high of 108 degrees at Needles, Calif.