The Nation's Weather 12.13.08

By WEATHER UNDERGROUND

Heavy snow, strong winds and a blast of cold air was forecast for the Northwest on Saturday. Daytime snowfall accumulations were expected to be around half of a foot, with as much as 10 to 12 inches expected in areas. Conditions were to be very windy, and blizzard warnings had been issued across parts of Montana and North Dakota, as well as a small area over southwest Washington and eastern Oregon. Highs were to be in the single digits, with temperatures to drop below zero in much of the region from Montana to the Dakotas.

Farther south, California was to see mostly rain, with snow in the mountains in the northern and eastern parts of the state. Much of the Intermountain West was to see snow showers.

While the Northern Plains was to get hit hard with the storm, the Central and Southern Plains were to see increasing clouds throughout the day as the system approaches the region. Snow was to begin to move into the area by the end of the day, and winds were to begin to pick up.

Most of the East Coast was to see mostly clear skies on Saturday, although some clouds and possibly a few lake effect flurries were forecast for areas closest to the Great Lakes.

Temperatures in the Lower 48 states on Friday ranged from a low of minus 29 degrees at Cook, Minn., to a high of 76 degrees at Tucson, Ariz.