The Nation's Weather 02.03.09

By WEATHER UNDERGROUND

Winter kept its grip on much of the East early Tuesday, with New England and the Great Lakes socked by snow. The West was to stay warm and calm.

More snow was in store from New England to the mid-Atlantic. Total accumulations between 2 to 4 inches were expected in the Northeast.

Behind this system, another cold front will move over the Ohio River Valley and into the Southeast. While not expected to kick up any precipitation, it will drop temperatures.

The Great Lakes will see snow as a low pressure moves through the region. This will allow for heavy snowfall at times, with anticipated rates of 1 to 2 inches per hour over northern Michigan.

In the Plains, a strong high pressure system from Canada will bring strong winds and create bitterly cold temperatures in the Northern Plains. Expect cool and dry conditions in the Central and Southern Plains.

In the West, high pressure was to build, creating plenty of sunshine over the Pacific Northwest, California and the Southwest.

Temperatures in the Lower 48 states on Monday ranged from a low of minus 19 degrees at Stanley, Idaho, to a high of 84 degrees at Fullerton, Calif.