LDN - Weather

The nation's weather

[October 22, 2011] (AP) Most of the nation was expected to see drier conditions on Saturday, as a mild weather pattern set up.

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A ridge of high pressure over the Plains was expected to advance eastward and continue building. The leading edge of this system was expected continue pushing cold air into the East, allowing for below seasonable temperatures to move over the Ohio River Valley and into the Northeast and New England.

Daytime highs were expected to range in the 50s and 60s, while overnight lows were forecast into the 30s and 40s. Frost and freeze advisories were expected to remain in effect for the eastern third of the nation.

Meanwhile, in the West, a low pressure system in the Gulf of Alaska continued pushing multiple disturbances into British Columbia and the Pacific Northwest, continuing to produce scattered rain showers across Oregon and Washington. As this system pushed in some cool air, it was expected to produce wintry precipitation for the Cascades. The first of these disturbances was expected to make its way over the northern Rockies and into the northern Plains on Saturday. This was expected to trigger a few light and scattered showers over the region.

To the south, high pressure was expected to slowly build over California and create a moderate warming trend for the Southwest. Dangerous fire weather conditions return to California and the Great Basin, due to offshore flow creating a dry and warm environment.

Temperatures in the Lower 48 states Friday ranged from a morning low of 15 degrees at Hibbing, Minn., to a high of 91 degrees at McAllen, Texas

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[Associated Press article from Weather Underground]