Independence Day Wet for Some, Dry for Others

The weather may have something to say about your outdoor plans this Independence Day. While many people will have great conditions for July Fourth, others may have to dodge wet weather.

For many, Independence Day is spent outdoors, watching fireworks, cooking on the grill, swimming in the pool and other activities that the weather can perfect or ruin. Most people look for pleasant weather on holidays like Monday's.

Monday Morning

Monday morning should be quite dry for much of the country. Some showers and thunderstorms should be in spots in the southern Plains as well as the mid-Atlantic. These, however, will be widely separated and have little impact on any morning plans.

Monday Afternoon

As the day progresses and people begin to head outdoors, some parts of the county may get a shower or a thunderstorm as the day gets warmer. The areas most threatened by afternoon activity are the Ohio Valley, southern Florida and the northern Plains. Activity should still be widely separated, and if any spots do see afternoon activity, it will be passing.

Monday Evening

Later in the day, thunderstorms will build due to afternoon sun, with the northern Plains, the Southeast, New England and the higher elevations in the Rockies having the greatest chance of a thunderstorm. While most areas of the country will still have only a passing storm, the timing of this late-day activity may interfere with many popular Independence Day celebrations.

Early Monday Night

For much of the country, thunderstorm activity should diminish after the sun sets. Any activity in the Rockies will become more scattered, and the Northeast should be mostly dry, except along the coast. The Southeast may still be dealing with a lingering shower or thunderstorm. The northern Plains look to be active more most of the night, especially areas close to the Canadian border.
Read more

Rains, flood threat hamper Aussie cyclone relief

Drenching rain and the threat of flash flooding hampered recovery efforts Friday following one of Australia's most damaging cyclones, as authorities confirmed the first death from the storm.

Cyclone Yasi was downgraded Friday morning to less than hurricane strength after traveling almost 500 miles (800 kilometers) inland since crashing ashore a day earlier along a long stretch of Queensland state's coast.

The storm destroyed dozens of homes and ripped roofs and walls from dozens more. It cut power supplies in two regional cities and laid waste to hundreds of millions of dollars worth of banana and sugar cane crops.

Police on Friday announced the first death from the cyclone — a 23-year-old man who asphyxiated due to fumes from a diesel-powered generator he was using in a closed room as he sheltered from the storm. Two other men are missing in Cardwell.

Residents and officials were amazed that the death toll was not higher. The storm whipped the coast with up to 170 mph (280 kph) winds and sent waves crashing ashore two blocks into seaside communities.

Prime Minister Julia Gillard said 4,000 troops were being made available to help with the cleanup operation, and more than 600 police and emergency services workers were fanning out to hard-hit towns with chain saws and heavy machinery to clear downed trees and other debris.

Power was gradually being restored in some areas, and airports in regional centers were reopening. But the work was being hampered by torrential rain in other parts of the disaster zone, a coastal region more than 190 miles (300 kilometers) long that is popular with tourists and forms the gateway to the Great Barrier Reef.
For more