NATIONAL SUMMARY                   
 
A stalled frontal boundary from the mid-Atlantic to the Ohio Valley 
and back toward the southern Plains triggered showers and storms in 
these regions. Storms fired from Oklahoma to southern Pennsylvania 
and even on into southeastern New England. Areas farther north were 
dry and comfortable with partly sunny skies. As steamy air surged 
into the South, storms popped up across the Gulf states to the 
Southeast. Gusty winds, frequent lightning and hail accompanied the 
storms in the South, putting a damper on holiday festivities. 
Although the storms mainly held off until later in the afternoon or 
evening, a tropical moisture surge into South Texas allowed some 
heavy storms to fire during the afternoon. By the evening, storms 
lined the Gulf coast of Texas and southwestern Louisiana. As the jet 
stream retreated to the north, much warmer air spilled across the 
western High Plains. Temperatures rose well into the 90s across the 
Front Range of the Rockies into western Nebraska. At the same time, 
heat still encompassed the Intermountain West. Cooler air lined the 
West Coast. Behind a cold front, cooler air surged into the Pacific 
Northwest. Strong storms were triggered by the clash of air masses 
across the northern Rockies and northern parts of central Montana 
with hail up to the size of quarters and wind gusts in excess of 70 
mph. More spotty afternoon storms peppered the central Rockies and 
the Four Corners region.