Rain expected across much of the nation

Showers and thunderstorms dampened much of the nation early Saturday, but it was cloudy and dry in parts of the West and Northeast.

Light rain stretched along the Atlantic Coast, and showers were expected to move into the Ohio Valley and Tennessee Valley. Temperatures were expected to be in the 50s across the Northeast, while the Southeast could reach the 80s.

Widespread rain and gusty wind were forecast for the Plains, while the lower Mississippi Valley likely will remain under mostly cloudy skies. Temperatures were expected to range from the 60s to the 80s in the central states.

In the West, the heaviest rain was expected in the northern Rockies, and some snow was falling in the mountains. The rest of the region was cloudy and mild. Temperatures across the Pacific Northwest were likely to reach the 60s, while the Desert Southwest could hit the 70s.

Friday's temperatures around the Lower 48 states ranged from 25 degrees in Berlin, N.H., to 89 degrees in Laredo, Texas.

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On the Net:

National Weather Service: http://iwin.nws.noaa.gov

Intellicast: http://www.intellicast.com

AccuWeather: http://www.accuweather.com