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[March 01, 2011] (AP) Expect another wet day in the West, while the East starts to dry out Tuesday.

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A strong low pressure system that brought heavy rain to the Ohio and Tennessee River valleys will rapidly move eastward and offshore. High pressure will quickly build in behind this system, allowing for dry and cool conditions across the central U.S. Expect mostly sunny skies across the Eastern half of the nation from New England to the Gulf of Mexico. The ridge will keep the region cool, with highs in the 40s in the North, while the South will see highs in the 60s and 70s. However, the cold front that moves off the East Coast will linger over Florida, where it will kick up more rain and thunderstorms.

In the West, a low pressure system sitting off the West Coast moves northeastward and approaches the Pacific Northwest. Meanwhile, a series of troughs leads this system onshore, spreading rain showers across northern California and the Pacific Northwest. Coastal areas will see 1 to 2 inches of rain, with up to 3 inches possible. Expect more snow to develop across the Sierras and Cascades. Snow levels across the Sierras will drop to 1,000 feet by Tuesday night, while they will remain at 500 feet across the Cascades.

In the Plains, expect a chance of light snow showers in the North, as a mild low pressure system skirts across the U.S. and Canadian border. Expect 1 to 2 inches of snow across North Dakota while temperatures remain cold. Overnight lows will dip into the negative teens again, while daytime highs will range from 0 to 10 degrees above zero.

Temperatures in the Lower 48 states Monday ranged from a morning low of minus 18 degrees at Crane Lake, Minn., to a high of 87 degrees at Baton Rouge, La.

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Online:

Weather Underground: http://www.wunderground.com/

National Weather Service:
http://iwin.nws.noaa.gov/

Intellicast:
http://www.intellicast.com/

[Associated Press article from Weather Underground]