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Weather Underground midday recap for Thursday, May 15, 2008.

An extreme heat wave gripped the West on Thursday. Temperatures were most extreme across central California where record highs were likely broken in the Bay Area and along the Central Coast. Hot weather also spread north along the Pacific coast, and highs in the 70s were reported north into the Seattle Area. California saw highs in the 90s widespread throughout the Central Valley and even close to the coast. A thin veil of high clouds was visible in the west for most of the day which helped keep temperatures from climbing even higher.

The Southwest saw some wet weather on Thursday as a weak area of low pressure dove through the Rockies. A few thunderstorms were reported to the west of Albuquerque, NM. Widespread flash flooding had not been reported in the region, but was possible through the afternoon.

The East also saw some wet weather as low pressure slid along a stationary front in the Appalachian Mountains. Rain was reported from the Great Lakes through the Gulf coast, and into the western Carolinas. Precipitation was heaviest in the Mid-West where over 2 inches of rain had fallen in some of the wettest areas.

The Northeast saw a few thunderstorms develop on Thursday, but they were generally quick and didn\'t cause any ill effects.

Temperatures in the Lower 48 states Thursday have ranged from a morning low of 19 degrees at Copper Mountain, Colo to a midday high of 102 degrees at Yuma MCAS, Ariz.