The Nation's Weather 10.12.08

By WEATHER UNDERGROUND

The season's first large western snowstorm was expected to continue across the Intermountain West and northern Rockies on Sunday, while showers and thunderstorms were forecast from the southern Plains to the upper Mississippi Valley.

Snow was predicted as far east as western Colorado and the western Dakotas. The heaviest snow was expected from eastern Idaho into northern Wyoming and eastern Montana, where up to a foot or more was likely.

Severe thunderstorms were possible across parts of the southern and central Plains, with the main threat being large hail and damaging winds.

Tranquil weather was forecast for the rest of the nation, except for parts of the Southeast, where scattered showers and thunderstorms were possible.

Another chilly day was forecast across the West. Temperatures could drop to record or near-record levels Sunday morning in parts of the Pacific Northwest and California. They were expected to rebound as the day progresses. The southern and central U.S. were forecast to be warm, with afternoon temperatures climbing into the 70s and 80s.

Temperatures in the Lower 48 states Saturday ranged from a low of 13 degrees at Idaho City, Idaho, to a high of 96 degrees at Cotulla, Texas.