US

Weather Underground Forecast for Tuesday, December 08, 2009.

Wet and wintry weather will continue across the Central US on Tuesday as a low pressure system continues tracking over the Central Rockies and into the Plains. This system is expected to intensify over the mountains and spread much precipitation from the Great Basin to the Four Corners on Tuesday. Expect 3-5 inches of snow over Colorado, while Nevada will see diminishing snowfall with totals less than 2 inches. A winter storm warning will stretch from the Southern Rockies into the Northern Plains as flow around this system will create an interesting trough axis that will extend eastward. This will allow for cool conditions with sufficient atmospheric moisture that is expected to trigger snow over the region. Expect 3-5 inches over the Central Plains, while 1-3 inches are expected to reach into the Upper Great Lakes region. Strong winds will accompany this storm with winds gusting up to 25 mph. A blizzard warning covers most of western Colorado as winds will reach up to 45 mph gusts. Behind this system, extremely cold air will pour into the Pacific Northwest and California. Frost and freeze warnings cover the West Coast as anticipated low temperatures will drop below freezing in many areas and daytime highs will remain in the 40s and 50s.

In the East, this storm may stretch over the Mississippi River and will start to track up the Ohio River Valley. This will allow for overcast skies and cool conditions, but little to no snow accumulation is expected. New England will see increasingly cloudy skies with snow most likely holding off until Wednesday. Expect highs to remain in the 30s and 40s. To the South, a front will linger over the Gulf stats and continue pulling moisture northward from the Gulf of Mexico. This will trigger another day with scattered showers and thunderstorms. Highs will remain in the 60s and 70s.

Temperatures in the Lower 48 states Monday ranged from a low of -28 degrees at Daniel, Wyo. to a high of 84 degrees at West Kendall, Fla.