The Nation's Weather 10.27.09

By WEATHER UNDERGROUND (AP)

Two strong systems were forecast to continue bringing unsettled weather to the U.S. on Tuesday.

In the East, a low pressure system over the Great Lakes would continue tracking eastward and would push into the Northeast. This system would continue dragging a cold front over the Mississippi Valley and up the Ohio River Valley.

Moisture from the Gulf of Mexico was expected to continue to feed this system, thus, scattered showers were expected to pop up anywhere along the front. Higher humidity and warmer temperatures in the South would allow for thunderstorms to develop, some of which may turn severe. This system has a history of producing strong winds and hail with up to 3 inches of rain over the Southern Plains, which would move into the Lower Mississippi and Southeastern states Tuesday.

Farther east, a front pushing onshore from the Atlantic was expected to combine with the front top the west, and add in the development of scattered showers over the region. Rainfall totals of less than a quarter of an inch were expected over the Mid-Atlantic states and into New England as the front gradually moved northward throughout the day. To the north, lighter rainfall was anticipated with totals remaining less than a half of an inch over the Ohio Valley and Northeast.

Behind this system in the Plains, higher pressure was expected to allow for mostly sunny skies and mild weather. Highs would return to the 50s and 60s in the Northern Plains, as the Southern Plains approached the 80s. Strong winds would push in from the West and allow for gusts up to 35 mph over the Central U.S.

Farther West, a trough and associated cold front would persist on its eastward path over the Pacific Northwest and Northern Rockies, and would dip into the Great Basin and Central Rockies. Snow accumulation up to 3-4 inches was expected, with up to 2 inches of rain at lower elevations.

Temperatures in the Lower 48 states Monday ranged from a low of 3 degrees at Berthoud Pass, Colo., to a high of 95 degrees at Santee, Calif.