National Weather at 135pm December 27 2004

[Jeb]

Major storm targets Southern California

1:36 P.M. ET 12/27/2004

 

Senior Meteorologist, The Weather Channel

 

 

 

West

Southern California will be the focus of the nastiest weather in the nation tomorrow as a large upper-air storm spins ever closer to the Golden State. Although virtually all of the state will be rainy (or, in the mountains, snowy), it's the southern portion that will catch the brunt of the storm: heavy rain, high winds and thunderstorms. Flood watches already are posted in anticipation of downpours spreading from northern and central California today, into the L. A. and San Diego areas this afternoon and tonight. As much as 10 or even 12 inches could cascade down in the Southern California mountains; even some lower-elevation locations may get deluged by up to 5 or 6 inches. Powerful winds will hammer the mountain ranges, while numerous thunderstorms are likely to produce small hail, waterspouts and even weak tornadoes. Elsewhere, showers and mountain snow, offshoots from the big storm, will spread into southern Nevada, southwestern Utah and western Arizona.

 

South

An isolated shower or two might break out in parts of Texas and Florida tomorrow, but the South, by and large, will remain dry. Temperatures are expected to range from a little below average along the Carolina coast and extreme southern Florida to well above in Texas and Oklahoma. Overall, highs will range from the 40s in North Carolina, northern South Carolina and parts of Tennessee to the 70s in south Florida and south Texas.

 

Northeast

A push of milder air riding gusty southwest winds tomorrow may trigger light, scattered snow flurries over Vermont, New York and northern Pennsylvania, but nothing of consequence. Temperatures are expected to be near to slightly below seasonal means with highs ranging from the teens in northern Maine to the 40s in West Virginia and Virginia. Warmer weather will prevail on Wednesday.

 

Midwest

An isolated snow flurry or sprinkle might threaten parts of the Upper Midwest and Great Lakes tomorrow, but the bulk of the Midwest and Plains will stay dry. Temperatures will be on the way up, with highs ranging from near 20 along the North Dakota-Canada border to the low 60s in southern Kansas.