US

Weather Underground Forecast for Friday, December 11, 2009.

Wintry weather will persist over the Northeast and New England on Friday, while the Central US starts to see a warming trend.

The low pressure system that brought heavy snowfall to the Central and Eastern US will push northeastward and into eastern Canada and off the East Coast. However, due to the large size of the storm, it will continue pulling a strong eastward flow over the Great Lakes and into the Northeast. Thus, heavy lake effect snow will continue dumping over the eastern shores of the eastern Great Lakes. Expect another 5-9 inches of heavy and damp snow over northern New York, while western Michigan will only see an inch or two on Friday. Behind this system, high pressure will dominate the Central US and bring cool and sunny skies to the Plains and Mississippi River Valley. Expect to see slightly warmer temperatures as clockwise flow around the ridge pulls warmer air into the Northern and Central Plains. Expect New England to remain in the 20s and 30s, while the Northern Plains and Upper Midwest will return to the teens.

South of this system, a low pressure system will develop over the Gulf of Mexico, which will pick up moisture and kick up scattered showers and thunderstorms. Wet weather from this event will extend over the Southeastern states and into the Mid-Atlantic states, with rainfall amounts remaining less than a half of an inch in most places.

Meanwhile in the West, a strong low pressure system spinning off the coast of California will push onshore on Friday. This will spread light rain over most of California with rainfall totals less than a quarter of an inch. Expect highs to remain in the 50s and 60s, while the Pacific Northwest will be cloudy with highs in the 30s and 40s.

Temperatures in the Lower 48 states Thursday ranged from a low of -27 degrees at Big Piney, Wyo. to a high of 102 degrees at Newnan, Ga.