NATIONAL SUMMARY                   
 
Tropical Storm Cristobal was named at 2 p.m. EDT on Saturday. After 
being named a depression on Friday night, the tropical system 
continued to strengthen with favorable conditions created by warm 
water and little wind shear. The storm lashed the Carolina shore with 
strong rip currents and rough surf as locally drenching thunderstorms 
spread into eastern portions of the Carolinas. Meanwhile, a train of 
storms continued to ride the active jet stream over the northern tier 
of the nation, which marked the northern extent of heat. Highs rose 
into the 90s from the Intermountain West through the central Plains 
to the mid-Atlantic, while storms affected the northern Plains to New 
England. The storms over northeastern Montana, the Dakotas to 
Minnesota and Iowa became strong and severe locally. Winds surpassed 
60 and even 70 mph in some of the storms. The strongest storms 
dropped hail up to the size of baseballs and torrential rain 
downpours. A total of 7 tornadoes were also reported. The storms that 
developed over New England also became locally strong with some hail, 
damaging winds and dangerous lightning strikes. Another area of 
storms was over the Desert Southwest with a surge in monsoonal 
moisture. Some local flooding affected parts of eastern Arizona and 
New Mexico as the storms provided relief from grueling heat and 
sunshine over the interior Southwest. Meanwhile, a cooler flow into 
the Pacific Northwest allowed western Washington and Oregon to be one 
of the most comfortable spots in the nation with highs in the 70s and 
80s inland and 60s along the coast.
 
 
SPECIAL WEATHER                    
 
Tropical Storm Cristobal:          
 
--Tropical Storm Cristobal was named in the Atlantic at 2 p.m. EDT on 
Saturday after strengthening into a depression on Friday night. Light 
wind shear and warm water set the stage for more tropical development 
on Saturday. As of 11 p.m. EDT Saturday, the highest sustained winds 
were 45 mph with higher gusts. As the winds circulated around the 
storm, rough surf and strong rip currents were caused offshore of the 
Carolinas. Outer bands of showers and storms were sent into the 
eastern Carolinas, causing some locally drenching downpours. 
Wilmington, N.C., received a record rainfall of 2.4 inches, breaking 
the old record of 2.32 inches set in 1955.
 
The tropical storm is expected to move slowly off to the north and 
east today along the North Carolina coast. Storms will once again 
spread into eastern North Carolina, while strong rip currents and 
rough surf continue to affect the shore.
 
 
WEATHER HIGHLIGHTS BY ACCU WEATHER 
 
Severe Weather Reports on Saturday:
 
-Wilmington, N.C., had a record rainfall of 2.4 inches, breaking the 
old record of 2.32 inches set in 1955.
 
-Flooding was reported near Lehigh Acres and Estero, Fla.
 
-Calais, Maine, had trees and power lines downed, 2-3 inches of rain, 
pea-sized hail and wind gusts of 45 mph.
 
-Wires were downed on a house, causing a fire in Beverly, Mass.
 
-Penny-sized hail fell near Killington, Vt.
 
-Half dollar-sized hail pounded Kennebunk, Maine.
 
-A tornado touched down near a barn near Becker, Minn. It downed 
several 2- to 3-foot oak trees.    
 
-A brief tornado touch down was observed in the vicinity of Big Lake, 
Minn.                              
 
-Twenty miles northeast of Killdeer, N.D., a tornado was sighted.
 
-Four tornado touchdowns were reported in Iowa. One near Alagona 
uprooted trees.                    
 
-Baseball-sized hail pounded areas to the northeast of Bismarck, N.D.
 
-Hail ranged from pea to golf ball size near Froid, Mont. Windows 
were broken on a home and several acres of crops were damaged.
 
-Aberdeen, S.D., set a record rainfall as 2.81 inches fell on 
Saturday, shattering the previous record of 1.96 inches.
 
-Half of an inch of rain fell in 15 minutes with storms near Cedar 
Rapids, Iowa.                      
 
-Numerous large tree branches down with thunderstorm gusts up to 58 
mph near Luverne Verne, Iowa.      
 
-One victim was rescued from flooded Arroyo near Interstate 40 and 
Carlisle Avenue near Albuquerque, N.M.
 
--24 Hour Rainfall Totals Ending 2 a.m. EDT on Sunday (in inches):
 
Aberdeen, SD                       2.81                               
 
 
Worthington, MN                    1.87                               
 
 
Chicago, IL                        1.61                               
 
 
Sioux Falls, SD                    1.59                               
 
 
Aurora, IL                         1.49                               
 
 
Luverne, MN                        1.41                               
 
 
Davenport, IA                      1.37                               
 
 
Red Wing, MN                       1.29                               
 
 
Cedar Rapids, IA                   1.87                               
 
 
Greater Rockford, IL               1.71                               
 
 
Manitowoc, WI                      1.60                               
 
 
Ames, IA                           1.50                               
 
 
Battle Creek, MI                   1.48                               
 
 
Newton, IA                         1.40                               
 
 
Beaufort, NC                       1.30                               
 
 
Clines Corners, NM                 1.28                               
 
 
Thunderstorm Wind Gusts on Saturday (mph):
 
 
Goshen, MA                         61                                 
 
 
Jacksonville Intl. Arpt, FL        41                                 
 
 
Milford, UT                        59                                 
 
 
Whittemore, IA                     60                                 
 
 
Golden Valley, ND                  70                                 
 
 
Peerless, MT                       60                                 
 
 
Jackson, MN                        60                                 
 
 
Pierre, SD                         67                                 
 
 
 
DAILY EXTREMES                     
 
National High yesterday 121 at Death Valley, California
National Low yesterday 25 at Stanley, Idaho
 
 
         COPYRIGHT 2008 ACCUWEATHER, INC