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[April 28, 2010]  (AP)  Wet and snowy conditions were forecast to persist over the western half of the country Wednesday.

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A low pressure system would continue moving over the West Coast and into the Rockies. This system would continue spreading light rain over lower elevations, with some light snow in the mountains. The Great Basin and Intermountain West were expected to see up to an inch of new snow, while the northern Rockies would see snowfall accumulation up to 3 inches. The Sierra Nevadas would also see approximately another 3 inches Wednesday. Rainfall totals over the lower elevations of West Coast would remain less than a quarter of an inch. Forecasters said some areas of northern California and the Pacific Northwest may see scattered thunderstorm development, with up to an inch of rain.

Ahead of this system, in the central and southern Rockies, strong winds were expected, with sustained winds between 40-45 mph and gusts up to 70 mph in some areas. Thus, a high wind watch was issued for most of Colorado, Arizona and New Mexico. Due to hot and dry conditions, these high winds would increase the fire risk over the southwestern U.S.

Meanwhile, the rest of the country would see mild weather Wednesday. A ridge of high pressure would stretch from the Plains to the East Coast, allowing for warm and sunny conditions. The Midwest would see highs in the 60s, while the Southeast would return to the 70s. Forecasters said a few scattered showers may persist in the Northeast as the low pressure system slowly pulled away from the region. Higher elevations of Vermont and New Hampshire might see up to 3 inches of new snow.

Temperatures in the Lower 48 states Tuesday ranged from a low of 18 degrees at Alliance, Neb., to a high of 98 degrees at Blythe, Calif.

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[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 This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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