Rain and thunderstorms in parts of the East, central states; dry weather in the West

Storms are forecast for much of the East and portions of the central states Saturday, while clear skies keep the West dry.

Showers and thunderstorms will stretch from the southern Great Lakes to the Ohio River Valley. Rain and thunderstorms may strike the Northeast, with afternoon storms possible in the Southeast.

Dry conditions will dominate the eastern Middle Atlantic.

Showers and thunderstorms will soak the southern Plains and middle and lower Mississippi Valley.

Partly cloudy skies and dry conditions will prevail in the northern and central Plains and upper Mississippi Valley.

The only exception to the dry weather in the West will be afternoon thunderstorms in the northern Great Basin.

High temperatures on Saturday were expected in the 60s and 70s in the upper and middle Mississippi Valley; 60s to 80s in the Great Lakes region and Rockies; 70s in the Northern Plains; 70s and 80s in the Ohio Valley, Central Plains, Great Basin and Pacific Northwest; 70s to 90s in the Southern Plains; 70s to 100s in California; 80s and 90s in the Northeast, Middle Atlantic, Southeast and lower Mississippi Valley; 90s and 100s in the Desert Southwest.

Friday's temperatures in the Lower 48 states ranged from of 30 degrees in Big Piney, Wyo., to 108 degrees in Altus, Okla.

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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