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Weather Underground midday recap for Tuesday, December 08, 2009.

An intense winter weather storm hit the Central US on Tuesday as a strong low pressure system stretched from the Rockies and into the Plains. Winter weather and blizzard advisories have been issued from Colorado, over the Central Plains, and into the Upper Midwest. Strong winds accompanied this system with gusts up to 25 mph over Iowa and Nebraska. Most of the Northern and Central Plains saw 0.5 to 1 inch of new snowfall, while Des Moines, Iowa reported snowfall rates ranging between 1-2 inches an hour. Cold and brisk conditions persisted over the Central US with high temperatures in the 20s and 30s. This allowed for dangerous road and travel conditions over most of the region. Snowfall diminished over the Central and Southern Rockies on Tuesday as this system pushed eastward and out of the region. A dusting of snow, and strong winds, lingered in some areas of western Colorado. Extrememly cold air poured in along the back side of this system as highs only reached into the single digits with below zero wind chills.

In the East, the system pushed cloudy skies and cool temperatures into the Northeast and New England, but snowfall has not yet been reported. Highs only reached into the 30s on Tuesday

Out West, cold conditions persisted over the West Coast as a strong low pressure system continued to spin in the Pacific. This allowed for a cold front to drape over the region and allowed for highs to remain in the 40s and 50s, while overnight lows dipped below freezing in most places.

Temperatures in the Lower 48 states Tuesday have ranged from a morning low of -34 degrees at Havre, Mont. to a midday high of 89 degrees at Punta Gorda, Fla.