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[November 12, 2010] (AP) Active weather was expected across the Midwest on Friday as a low pressure system continued moving eastward across the nation.

(Click on map for larger image.)

The system developed as it moved off the Rockies and into the Plains. Flow around this system was forecast to continue pulling ample moisture in from the Gulf of Mexico and feed energy into the low.

At the same time, a cold front was created that would move across the central U.S., starting the day in the central Plains and expected to move over the Mississippi River Valley. This system was forecast to kick up scattered showers and thunderstorms, but they were not likely to turn severe. The leading edge of this system would push warm southern air into the eastern U.S., allowing for temperatures to reach above seasonable, ranging in the 60s across most of the Northeast and New England.

However, on the northern side of this system, it was expected to pull cool air in from Canada, allowing for the northern Plains and upper Midwest to see some cool temperatures. Highs were expected to range around freezing across the north-central U.S.

Flow around the low pressure system just to the south would push moisture into the upper Midwest, creating light and scattered snow showers across Minnesota and Wisconsin. Snowfall totals were forecast to remain light and total accumulations would be minimal. Precipitation was expected to remain as rain across Iowa and Illinois.

In the West, a ridge of high pressure was building over the Rockies and bringing drier conditions to the mountains before another trough of low pressure approached from the Pacific Ocean. The system was forecast to reach the Pacific Northwest and trigger some scattered rain showers over Washington and Oregon. A few scattered snow showers may linger across the northern Rockies, but snowfall accumulation would be light.

Elsewhere, California and the Southwest were forecast to remain dry, sunny and warm.

Temperatures in the Lower 48 states Thursday ranged from a low of 6 degrees at Yellowstone, Wyo., to a high of 81 degrees at West Palm Beach, Fla.

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[Associated Press article from Weather Underground]