LDN - Weather

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[February 28, 2011] (AP) Two weather features will bring another active weather day to the nation Monday.

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A low pressure system that made its way from the West Coast, will quickly move through the Plains, into the Midwest and New England by Monday night. This system will bring a wide area of precipitation with it. Snow will develop along the colder northern edge of this system over the Great Lakes, while a cold front extends southward, triggering scattered showers and thunderstorms over the lower Mississippi River Valley and Southeast. A warm front will develop to the east, leading this system into the Northeast and New England. Expect a narrow band of frozen rain and sleet to develop along this front as it moves up the Ohio River Valley. Light snow showers may develop behind this system in the upper Midwest as well as the northern and central Plains. Expect a chilly day across the central U.S., with highs in the mid-20s to upper 30s.

Out West, another trough of low pressure moves in from the Gulf of Alaska. This system has already triggered rain and snow showers over the Pacific Northwest and will stretch southward down the coast Monday. Expect widespread scattered rain showers with more high-elevation snow showers to develop as this system pushes a front into northern California. In the morning, snowfall rates of up to 1 to 2 inches per hour are likely across the Cascades, with snow levels down to 1,000 feet. This system also pushes a trough eastward over the northern Rockies, triggering periods of heavy snow. Low levels will see 3 to 6 inches of snow, while high mountain passes of Montana may see up to 2 feet of snow. Drivers are urged to take caution and only cross high mountain passes if necessary.

Temperatures in the Lower 48 states Sunday ranged from a morning low of minus 17 degrees at Clayton Lake, Maine, to a high of 94 degrees at Hebbronville, Texas.

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Online:

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]