National Weather at 125pm December 12 2004

[Jeb]

Lake-effect snow machine ready to crank

1:27 P.M. ET 12/12/2004

 

Sr. Meteorologist, The Weather Channel

 

 

 

Midwest

Although a good chunk of the Midwest and virtually all of the Plains will be breezy and cold but dry tomorrow, areas around the Great Lakes will be swept by wind-driven lake-effect snow. The heaviest amounts (tonight through tomorrow) will coat the U. P. of Michigan and western lower Michigan, but snow showers will reach as far south as northern Indiana, northern Ohio and the extreme upper Ohio Valley. The greatest snowfall totals could add up to over a foot on parts of the U. P., while western lower Michigan may see general amounts of 5 to 10 inches. High temperatures are expected to range from a little above average on the northern Plains to well below seasonal means in the lower Midwest. Overall, highs will range from the teens in northern parts of the Upper Midwest to the 40s in Kansas and far southern Missouri.

 

Northeast

A wintry air mass will bluster into the Northeast tomorrow with gusty winds and, over the interior, snow showers. Generally dry conditions are expected to prevail from around Hartford, Conn., southward into Virginia, however. Downwind (east and southeast) of Lakes Ontario and Erie, the lake-effect snow machine will be in full cry, perhaps unloading up to a foot in some areas; heavy snow squalls are likely over the higher peaks of West Virginia, too. High temperatures are forecast to be seasonable (before turning colder on Tuesday) with maxima ranging from the upper 20s in northern Maine to the 50s in southeast Virginia.

 

South

A wintry air mass will push into the South tomorrow, setting up the region for a very chilly day Tuesday. Blustery winds will accompany the cold invasion Monday with gusts reaching 30 to 35 mph in most locations. High temperatures will range from the 40s to the 60s, north to south, with only southern Florida likely to see readings in the 70s. Precipitation will be extremely limited. Isolated rain or snow showers may skitter over the Appalachians, and a lonely shower or thundershower could pop up along the central Gulf Coast.

 

West

Most of the West will be dry and mild (for the season) tomorrow, with only a sparse scattering of showers expected over and west of the Cascades and in northern California as a weakening Pacific front approaches. The best chance for showers would appear to be in western Washington, far northwest Oregon and northwest California. Snow levels will be rather high: around 5000 feet in the Washington Cascades, 6000 feet in the Oregon Cascades. Farther east, a few snow showers may dust the mountains of central Idaho. High temperatures are expected to range from the 30s in the Rocky Mountain region to the 70s in the low deserts of the Southwest.