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NATIONAL SUMMARY -After a soggy start to the workweek, the mid-Atlantic began to dry out on Tuesday, but not after more downpours, especially earlier in the day. A few drenching storms even lingered well into the evening. Meanwhile, a cooler, steadier rain continued to impact much of New England. Locally strong thunderstorms again erupted across the Southeast, some containing hail and strong winds. Meanwhile, a cold front swinging through the Great Lakes brought a few showers and thunderstorms to parts of northern Illinois, Wisconsin and Michigan. In the wake of the front, high pressure slowly began to build south from central Canada, making for a noticeably cooler day over the northern Plains and Upper Midwest. Across the southern Plains and Rockies, except for a few widely scattered storms over Texas and Louisiana, dry weather was the rule. Across the interior Southwest, it was another very warm day, with temperatures again rising past the 100-degree mark in many desert and valley locations. While the Northwest, including Seattle and Portland, turned cooler, afternoon high temperatures were again well above normal. SPECIAL WEATHER Remembering a Chilly Start, Warm Finish in the Midwest... -On May 16, 1997, much of the Midwest experienced a cold, frosty start to the day, but an unseasonably warm finish. The chill in the morning was so severe in Oceana County, Mich., that 20 percent of the asparagus crop was wiped out by a late freeze. Meanwhile, Sioux City, Iowa, dropped to 33, a new record low for the date. Later in the day, a high temperature of 91 broke a record high, marking a rare double-record day for the city. WEATHER HIGHLIGHTS Temperature Records from Tuesday: -Hilo, Hawaii, tied the record low of 63 degrees, also set in many previous years. -Organ Pipe Cactus, Ariz., set a record high of 104 degrees, breaking the record of 103 degrees set in 1970. -Picacho Peak, Ariz., tied the record high of 103 degrees, previously set in 2000. -Yakima, Wash., set a record high of 94 degrees, breaking the record of 93 degrees set in 1973. -Russell, Kan., tied the record high of 92 degrees, previously set in 1964. -Des Moines, Iowa, tied the record high of 91 degrees, previously set in 1941. -Concordia, Kan., tied the record high of 91 degrees, previously set in 1944. -Burley, Idaho, tied the record high of 89 degrees, previously set in 1997. -Pocatello, Idaho, set a record high of 88 degrees, breaking the record of 86 degrees set in 1954. -Cut Bank, Mont., set a record high of 87 degrees, breaking the record of 86 degrees set in 1939. -Valier, Mont., set a record high of 86 degrees, breaking the record of 85 degrees set in 1936. -Madison, Wis., tied the record high of 86 degrees, previously set in 1977. -Klamath Falls, Ore., tied the record high of 85 degrees, originally set in 2008. -Boulder, Mont., set a record high of 84 degrees, breaking the record of 83 degrees set in 1944. -Ely, Nev., tied the record high of 82 degrees, previously set in 1893, 1988 and 1997. -Rawlins, Wyo., set a record high of 81 degrees, breaking the record of 79 degrees set in 1978. -Rock Springs, Wyo., tied the record high of 80 degrees, previously set in 1975. -Stanley, Idaho, set a record high of 77 degrees, breaking the record of 76 degrees set in 1993 and 2006. 24-Hour Rainfall Totals, as of 1 a.m. EDT Wednesday: (*denotes daily rainfall record) San Antonio, TX 2.56"* Avoca, PA 2.29"* Sanford, FL 2.17" Sumter, SC 2.15" Stafford, VA 1.86" La Grange, TX 1.64" Cape Hatteras, NC 1.60" Pottstown, PA 1.55" Nacogdoches, TX 1.51" Mount Pocono, TX 1.46" Suffolk, VA 1.41" Blue Bell, PA 1.39" Louisa, VA 1.38" Stumpy Point, NC 1.35" Melbourne, FL 1.34" Hampton, VA 1.33" Orange, VA 1.33" Miami (Tamiami Airport), FL 1.23" Hanover, VA 1.20" Annville, PA 1.17" Norfolk, VA 1.14" Glens Falls, NY 1.12" Bridgeport, CT 1.07"* Cape Canaveral, FL 1.06" DAILY EXTREMES National High Yesterday 110 at Gila Bend, Arizona National Low Yesterday 23 at Bridgeport, California COPYRIGHT 2012 ACCUWEATHER, INC