The Nation's Weather 04.16.09

By WEATHER UNDERGROUND

Active weather was expected in the Plains on Thursday. Moisture from the Gulf of Mexico was to bring snow and low elevation rain in the Rockies. Scattered showers and thunderstorms with strong winds were expected over the Central and Southern Plains, while scattered showers were expected in the Northern Plains, continuing flooding problems there. The Central Plains were to see 1 to 2 inches of rain, while the Southern Plains were to get lighter showers, along with areas of severe thunderstorms with hail and strong winds. Meanwhile, the Central Rockies were to see another 3 to 7 inches of new snow. Less than an inch of new precipitation was anticipated in the Northern Rockies.

The West Coast was to see warm conditions with mostly sunny skies. Seasonable conditions were on tap in the Pacific Northwest and California.

The central part of the country was to see mostly sunny skies and warm conditions. Temperatures in the Upper Great Lakes were to reach the upper 60s. Drier conditions were forecast for the Mid-Atlantic states.

Temperatures in the Lower 48 states Wednesday ranged from a low of 12 degrees at Mammoth, Calif., to a high of 100 degrees at Opa Locka, Fla.