The Nation's Weather 12.07.09

By WEATHER UNDERGROUND (AP)

Active weather was expected to develop nationwide on Monday.

A strong winter weather disturbance from the Pacific was forecast to interact with a trough of low pressure in the jet stream and produce a swath of precipitation and cold temperatures in California.

Lowered temperatures throughout the state were expected to aid in creating areas of heavy snowfall across the mountains. Lower elevations may also see snow flurries during the morning hours with no snow accumulation, while light snow accumulations are expected in the Central Valley.

Wet weather was expected to taper off during the afternoon hours in northern California and by the evening hours in southern California.

Meanwhile, the Pacific Northwest could see a brief period of dry weather on Monday due to strong high pressure situated over western Canada. The system was expected to continue pumping cold Arctic air into the Pacific Northwest during the next few days, keeping the region under cold and dry conditions through much of the week.

In the Central Great Basin, a major winter storm was forecast to hit the Four Corners with strong wintry weather. Blizzard like conditions with heavy snowfall, blustery winds and strong wind gusts were expected throughout western Colorado, southeastern Utah and central Arizona. Significant snowfall and blowing snow could create limited visibility and dangerous traveling conditions.

Out East, low pressure and scattered snow showers were expected to reach the Great Lakes region on Monday.

To the south, moisture from the Gulf of Mexico was forecast to spark rain showers and thunderstorms near the central and western regions of the Gulf Coast.

Fairly dry weather was expected to develop throughout the eastern seaboard due to high pressure.

On Sunday, temperatures in the Lower 48 states ranged from a low of -20 degrees at Stanley, Idaho, to a high of 80 degrees at Fort Lauderdale, Fla.