The nation's weather

[December 17, 2010]  (AP)  Wintry weather across the East was forecast to diminish early Friday, while wet and snowy conditions returned to the West Coast.

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A low pressure system over the Mid-Atlantic states was expected to move offshore and out into the Atlantic Ocean. The system would continue pushing a cold front southeastward over the Gulf states. This was forecast to kick up a few scattered rain showers throughout the day.

In the North, the flow around this system would continue pushing cold air over the Great Lakes, which would pick up moisture and produce lake-effect snow showers over the southeastern shores. These snow showers were expected to produce less snow than the past few days, with accumulation ranging from 1 to 3 inches, possibly up to 6 inches in northern New York.

The nation would remain cold, with highs in the 60s in the South, while the North would remain in the 10s and 20s.

In the West, another low pressure system spinning off the West Coast was forecast to approach California on Friday and push ample Pacific moisture onshore. A trough of low pressure would extend southeastward from this system and push into California early in the day. Then the cold front in the north was expected to push into the Pacific Northwest later in the day. Widespread scattered rain showers and high-elevation snow showers were expected over most of California, while chances of showers were expected to increase in the afternoon across the Pacific Northwest. Another chilly day was expected, with highs in the 40s and 50s.

Between these two systems, a trough of low pressure would continue skirting over the southern Rockies and into the central Plains. This was expected to bring more rain and high-elevation snow to Colorado and New Mexico.

Temperatures in the Lower 48 states Thursday ranged from a morning low of minus 20 degrees at Crane Lake, Minn., to a high of 83 degrees at Edinburg, Texas.

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 This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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