1.   The coast has been battered by torrential rain all week.

2.   Brilliant blue skies gave Californians a chance to dry out Monday, offering a respite from Pacific storms that have battered the coast like artillery barrages.

3.   Dennis battered the coast for a week before slogging ashore, while Irene menaced, then veered out to sea.

4.   Heavy rains battered the coast Monday, meteorologists said.

5.   Heavy rains, strong winds and high seas battered the coast along the Florida panhandle while to the west, in southern Alabama, emergency shelters filled up rapidly.