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[April 21, 2010]  (AP)  The West Coast was forecast to see another wet day Wednesday as a strong low pressure system and associated cold front moved over the region.

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Flow around this system would continue picking up moisture from the Pacific Ocean and spreading scattered showers over northern California and the Pacific Northwest. One to 3 inches of snow was expected at higher elevations of the Sierra Nevadas and the Cascades. By Wednesday evening, this system would reach into the Rockies and kick up 2-5 inches of snow over the Intermountain West and Great Basin, while the northern Rockies would see 1-2 inches. Just ahead of this system in the central Rockies, strong winds were expected with gusts up to 40 mph. This would allow for dangerous roads and travel conditions, especially at high mountain passes. This system would also pull some cool air in from the north; thus, the southwestern U.S. would remain 10-15 degrees below normal with highs in the 60s.

Meanwhile, in the East, a trough of low pressure would dip into the Northeast from Canada and combine with a low pressure system over the Mid-Atlantic states. This would pull moisture in from the Atlantic Ocean and bring widespread scattered showers to most of the East Coast, with rainfall totals between a quarter and a half of an inch. Severe weather was not anticipated as this system does not have a history of producing strong winds or hail.

The central U.S. was forecast to see another warm and pleasant day on Wednesday as high pressure hovers over the Plains. This would allow for the Midwest to reach into the 70s again with a few patchy clouds.

Temperatures in the Lower 48 states Tuesday ranged from a low of 21 degrees at Yellowstone, Wyo., to a high of 89 degrees at Gila Bend, Ariz.

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http://iwin.nws.noaa.gov/

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http://www.intellicast.com/

[Associated Press article from Weather Underground]

Copyright 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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