Orcas, WA

Weather Underground midday recap for Sunday, February 12, 2012.

Unsettled weather developed over parts of the West on Sunday as a trough of low pressure dug across the region. The system kicked up widely scattered snow showers in the Four Corners with moderate snow accumulations. The San Juan Mountains experienced heavy snow with snow accumulations expected to reach up to 17 inches by Sunday night. Snow accumulations in the nearby valley were expected to reach up to 8 inches. Meanwhile, snow accumulations for other mountains in the Four Corners were expected to range between 4 to 10 inches, with local accumulations of up to 14 inches. In addition to snow, isolated thunderstorms developed ahead of the trough in parts of New Mexico. Small hail, brief heavy rain, and small bursts of heavy snow above 7,000 feet were the main impacts with these thunderstorms. Further ahead of this system, a mix of wintry precipitation with sleet, freezing rain, and snow spread into Texas. Snow accumulations were expected to range from 1 to 3 inches. Winter Weather Advisories remained in effect from the Southern Plains through the Mid-Mississippi Valley in anticipation of this system's precipitation.

Elsewhere in the West, lighter snow developed in parts of Idaho and Wyoming, while an approaching Pacific frontal system spread thickening clouds across the Pacific Northwest and northern California coasts this afternoon.

In the East, lake-effect snow showers with periods of heavy snow and blowing snow continued along the Lower Great Lakes Snowbelt. Total snow accumulations of up to 8 inches were expected in parts of the Lower Great Lakes Snowbelt.

Finally, temperatures east of the Continental Divide remained quite cold this afternoon. Areas from the High Plains through the Ohio Valley and the northern Mid-Atlantic experienced highs in the 20s and 30s, the Northeast experienced highs ranging from upper 0s to 30s, and the Deep South only reached into the 40s, 50s, and 60s by the afternoon.