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[March 16, 2011] (AP) Wet weather is in store for the East Coast and West Coast on Wednesday.

(Click on map for larger image.)

Hardware A low pressure system that tracked from the southern Plains, over the Mississippi River and up the Ohio River Valley will make its way into New England and the Northeast. A cold front associated with this system that has brought severe weather to the Southeast the past few days will push off the Mid-Atlantic Coast, bringing an end to heavy rain, strong winds and severe thunderstorm development.

Behind this system, a large ridge of high pressure builds over the Plains and Mississippi River Valley. This ridge allows for plenty of sunny skies and warm temperatures as it pushes warm air in from the South. Expect the northern Plains and upper Midwest to see highs in the 40s and 50s, while the southern Plains will reach into the 80s and 90s again Wednesday.

Meanwhile in the West, a Pacific storm continues pounding away at the West Coast. The system pushes a series of low pressure troughs onshore, each producing heavy rain showers. Temperatures will continue to cool, forcing snow levels to drop. Snow levels across the Cascades and Coast Range will drop to around 2,000 feet, with accumulation from 3 to 5 inches, while the Sierras will see 1 to 3 inches of snow down to 1,000 feet and 4 to 7 inches above 7,000 feet.

Temperatures in the Lower 48 states Tuesday ranged from a morning low of minus 9 degrees at Clayton Lake, Maine, to a high of 84 degrees at Thermal, Calif.

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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]