The Nation's weather

Widely scattered showers and thunderstorms were expected Wednesday from the central Gulf coast to the Carolinas.

Heavier rain was possible along the central and eastern parts of the Gulf coast, with some isolated hail in the afternoon.

Showers and thunderstorms were also forecast for the Upper Midwest and Ohio Valley. A few severe storms were likely, capable of producing hail and damaging winds.

In the West, light to moderate rain was to fall across western Washington state. Farther inland, a system in the Rockies was to trigger scattered showers and thunderstorms over the northern Intermountain West and Northern High Plains early in the day.

The system was …