The Nation's Weather 01.02.09

By WEATHER UNDERGROUND

The Pacific Northwest was in for heavy mixed precipitation on Friday. Snow levels were to drop to 1,500 feet Friday morning over the Cascades, while the Northern Rockies were to see a mixture of snow and rain as a warm front pushed the snow levels up to 5,000 feet. Dangerous road conditions were anticipated over the region due to strong winds with gusts up to 65 mph.

Two cold fronts were to move across the Eastern U.S. on Friday. One was to move from Michigan to New England and extend down the East Coast, while the other was to follow close behind moving from Wisconsin to the eastern Great Lakes and extending along the Ohio River Valley. There was not abundant moisture associated with this system, but scattered lake effect snow showers were expected over the Great Lakes and western New England. Less than 2 to 3 inches were likely in most areas.

To the south, these fronts were not expected to kick up a significant amount of snow or rain showers across the Mid-Atlantic states. However, light snow and rain were likely at higher elevations of the Appalachians. Meanwhile, the Southeastern states were to see scattered showers and thunderstorms, but rainfall accumulation was to be light.

Temperatures in the Lower 48 states on Thursday ranged from a low of minus 23 degrees at Mount Washington, N.H., to a high of 79 degrees at Weslaco, Texas.