The Nation's Weather 12.14.08

By WEATHER UNDERGROUND

Heavy snow was to fall Saturday in the Northern Plains and Upper Midwest, where Blizzard Warnings were in effect. Rain and areas of freezing rain from the storm were to sweep through the Plains and Mississippi Valley.

To the west, cold air was to lower snow levels to only a few thousand feet for many areas from the West Coast to the Intermountain West. Parts of California not receiving snow were to greet significant rain.

Elsewhere, extremely cold air was to plunge into the Intermountain West and Northern Plains, producing another day of subzero temperatures.

Temperatures were to be in the 30s and 40s in the Northeast; 50s and 60s in the Southeast; single digits and 10s in the Intermountain West and Northern Plains; and 20s and 30s in the Northwest.

Temperatures in the Lower 48 states Saturday ranged from minus 18 degrees at Saranac Lake, N.Y., to 79 degrees at Kingsville, Texas.