Punta Gorda, FL

Weather Underground Forecast for Wednesday, May 16, 2012.

Unsettled weather is expected to continue across the Eastern U.S. Wednesday. A weak trough of low pressure will remain in place, as a cold front over the Midwest moves east and south. The northern portion of this cold front is forecast to move offshore Thursday morning, while the southern portion becomes near stationary across the Southeast and lower Mississippi Valley. As a result, widely scattered showers and isolated thunderstorms are expected across the Tennessee and Ohio Valley as well as the Eastern U.S. Wednesday and continue into Thursday morning. In particular, there is a slight risk of severe thunderstorms across parts of the Northeast. Some hail will be possible, but greater severe risk appears to be locally damaging winds. In addition, a few storms may produce locally gusty winds or small hail over the Southeast Coast in the afternoon.

Elsewhere, scattered showers and thunderstorms will continue over southeast Texas and Gulf Coast. Moreover, a few isolated rain showers and thunderstorms may pop up over the Intermountain West.

Temperature wise, another hot and dry day is in store for the Desert Southwest. Afternoon temperatures will reach 90s and low 100s. Over the Northern High Plains, temperatures are forecast to soar 15 to 20 degrees above average. Widespread upper 80s and low 90s are expected for the highs.