The Nation's Weather 02.18.09

By WEATHER UNDERGROUND

Residents of the Northeast, South and Central Plains were battling snow and rain, while the majority of the West got a break from the recent cold and wet weather.

The main weather system for Wednesday is the large storm system in the Central Plains that will slowly track northeastward, producing widespread precipitation and strong winds across the eastern half of the nation.

Moderate to heavy snow will develop from Michigan to Maine, as far south as West Virginia. Up to 5 inches of accumulation is expected.

As north winds increase in the afternoon and at night, blowing and drifting snow will become likely across the Upper Midwest and Great Lakes, along with bitter cold as temperatures fall.

Further south, freezing rain was predicted over parts of the mid-Atlantic. Widely scattered rain showers and thunderstorms are expected across the Tennessee Valley, Deep South and Southeast.

Severe thunderstorms are likely to develop over the central and eastern Gulf States and portions of the Tennessee Valley, with the main threat being damaging winds, hail and isolated tornadoes.

Warmer and drier weather returns to the Pacific Northwest and California. The Sierras and Rockies were to see some scattered snow showers, but the amounts should remain mostly on the light side.

Temperatures in the Lower 48 states on Tuesday ranged from a low of minus 9 degrees at Flag Island, Minn., to a high of 86 degrees at Harlingen, Texas.