The Nation's Weather 10.21.09

By WEATHER UNDERGROUND (AP)

Wintry weather was forecast to persist over the Central U.S. as a cold front continued tracking eastward Wednesday.

A low pressure system that brought snowy conditions to the Rockies would continue pushing eastward.

This system and associated cold front would strengthen as it moved off the Rockies and into the Plains. Flow around this system would obtain much moisture from the Gulf of Mexico and allow for scattered showers and thunderstorms to develop over the Southern Plains and Southeast.

Cool temperatures were expected in the North to allow for light and scattered snowfall. Snowfall accumulation would be less than 1 inch in the Central and Northern Plains, while the Upper Midwest would see a sloppy combination of freezing rain and sleet. Rainfall totals in the Western Great Lakes would hover around a half and a quarter of an inch.

Behind this system, light and scattered snowfall would linger over the Central Rockies. Up to 3 inches were expected over the mountains of Colorado. Farther west, high pressure would build over the West Coast and allow for warm and sunny conditions to return. However, to the north, a Pacific Front would push over the Pacific Northwest and kick up light rain over Oregon and Washington.

In the East, high pressure would continue to dominate the weather over the Eastern third of the country. This would allow for dry conditions to persist with mostly sunny skies and warm conditions. Highs over the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic States would reach into the 70s while the Northeast would see highs in the 50s.

Temperatures in the Lower 48 states Tuesday ranged from a low of 20 degrees at Northfield, Vt., to a high of 94 degrees at Bullhead City, Ariz.