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[April 20, 2010] (AP) Wet and snowy weather was expected over the western U.S. on Tuesday as a late-season storm moved through the region.

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A low pressure system spinning in the Pacific Ocean would create a trough of low pressure and associated cold front that would continue moving through the Pacific Northwest and northern California, and into the northern Rockies and Great Basin on Tuesday. This system will have picked up moisture from the Pacific Ocean and would spread scattered showers and thunderstorms over the northwestern U.S. with high-elevation snow. The Sierra Nevadas would see 2-4 inches of new snow, while the Cascades would only see 1-2 inches. Some high-elevation passes would see some strong winds with gusts up to 37 mph. Lower elevations of the Pacific Northwest and California might see some thunderstorms with strong winds gusting up to 25 mph. Rainfall accumulation would remain less than half an inch, with more likely in areas of thunderstorm development.

Meanwhile, in the Southeast, a low pressure system that brought scattered showers and thunderstorms to Texas and the lower Mississippi River Valley would continue moving northeastward over the Southeast and into the Tennessee Valley and Mid-Atlantic states. Rainfall amounts near a quarter of an inch were expected, while areas of thunderstorms would see up to an inch of new rainfall. Severe weather was not expected as this system does not have a history of producing severe winds or hail.

The central U.S. would see another warm and sunny day as high pressure hovered over the Plains and Great Lakes. The southern Plains would see overcast skies with scattered showers as a minor trough of low pressure moved in from the southern Rockies. This system was expected to also bring strong winds with gusts up to 25 mph over Texas and Oklahoma.

Temperatures in the Lower 48 states Monday ranged from a low of 15 degrees at Mount Washington, N.H., to a high of 84 degrees at Yuma Marine Corps Air Station, Ariz.

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On the Net:

Weather Underground: http://www.wunderground.com/

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

Intellicast:
http://www.intellicast.com/

[Associated Press article from Weather Underground]