The Nation's Weather 11.23.09

By WEATHER UNDERGROUND (AP)

Drier weather was expected to return to much of the West on Monday as a building ridge of high pressure replaces the eastern Pacific storm from Sunday.

Ridging over the region and offshore winds were forecast to instigate a gradual warming trend in California and areas of the Pacific Northwest, allowing temperatures to warm nicely through the upcoming holiday.

Meanwhile, the northern coastal areas of the Pacific Northwest could receive another dose of rain and snow as a disturbance grazes the area. Precipitation across this region was expected to be limited due to strengthening high pressure.

As high pressure builds into the West, the Pacific storm was expected to move into the Central Plains on Monday. Moisture and cool air wrapping around the system may kick up light to moderate rain and wet snowfall in the Central Plains and the Upper Mississippi Valley.

In the East, low pressure developing just off the South Carolina coast was expected to produce unsettling weather as it rides up the eastern shoreline. Onshore flow was expected to fuel areas of rainfall and isolated thunderstorms in the Mid-Atlantic and areas of the Northeast throughout the day.

Fairly quiet weather were expected elsewhere.

On Sunday, temperatures in the lower 48 states ranged from a low of -1 degrees at Big Piney, Wyo. to a high of 85 degrees at Miami, Fla.