Asia

Weather Underground Forecast for Saturday, December 19, 2009.

Persistent low pressure over the Kuril Islands will keep showers and snow showers going across Japan and portions of eastern China on Saturday. Temperatures throughout the region will be quite chilly, and rain will mostly be limited to the Japan's southwestern coast. Snow is also anticipated across portions of the South Korean coast. Temperatures throughout Japan will be about the same as Friday, but to the north, eastern Russia will feel temperatures drop even further throughout the day. For most of China, from Beijing southward, skies will be fairly clear as am intense high pressure system builds over southern Mongolia.

Precipitation will build south of China, with light showers over Vietnam and more intense rain over Malaysia and Indonesia.

South of the Equator, Tropical Cyclone Laurence is expected to move off the coast of Northern Australia, maintaining its strength as a category one tropical cyclone.

Elsewhere over the continent, a few showers are possible surrounding Brisbane, and some light drizzle is possible just south of Perth. New Zealand will see active weather as a strong storm passes by the South Island, bringing chilly rain to much of the nation. The North Island will see a chance for thunderstorms as a cold front associated with this storm passes through in the morning.