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[December 18, 2010] (AP) Wintry weather was expected to persist in the western U.S. Saturday as cool conditions continued in the East.

A low pressure system spinning in the North Pacific Ocean was forecast to continue pushing a cold front over the West Coast and into the Intermountain West, triggering widespread rain showers with high-elevation snow showers spreading from the Sierras, into the Cascades and Great Basin.

The Sierras were expected to see up to a foot of snow above 7,000 feet, while the Cascades were expected to see up to 6 inches of snow to the valley floors. Nevada and Utah were expecting an increasing chance of snow showers as the front approached. Gusts up to 35 mph were expected along this front and at high mountain passes.

Rainfall totals at lower levels of California, Oregon, and Washington were forecast to range from a quarter of an inch to an inch.

In the central U.S., a strong ridge of high pressure was expected to dominate the weather and continue pulling in cold air from Canada. Another chilly day with a few patchy clouds was forecast, but precipitation wasn't anticipated. The northern Plains were expected to see another day in the teens, while the southern Plains were to remain in the 50s.

Farther east, a cold front over the Gulf states was to start to pulling eastward and away from the Gulf. However, scattered rain showers were expected to persist as the system moved into the Carolinas. Rainfall totals were forecast to reach near an inch as the system pulled moisture in from both the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean.

In the North, another day of lake-effect snow showers was expected over the Great Lakes, but accumulation was to be lower than in the past few days.

Temperatures in the Lower 48 states Friday ranged from a morning low of minus 16 degrees at Pinedale, Wyo., to a high of 80 degrees at Stuart, Fla.

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[Associated Press article from Weather Underground]