The Nations Weather

NATIONAL WEATHER SUMMARY:

Thursday was a rather chilly day across most of the eastern U.S. Teens and twenties were the high temperatures from most of New England the Delmarva area. Thirties and forties stretched across the Mid-Atlantic and TN Valley, while fifties covered most of FL. Key West, FL had a high of 55 which was the coldest high they have had since Christmas Day 1989. Other than the cool temperatures, conditions were quiet across the east today. Temperatures are forecast to warm over the next couple of days.

Very mild weather developed across the Plains. A strong wind flow from the south will brought warm temperatures northward. Afternoon temperatures pushed into the 70s across Kansas, 60s into Nebraska and South Dakota. Kearney and Hastings, NE set record highs of 64 and 66 respectfully. MN and ND registered above normal highs in the 30s and 40s. The mild pattern will continue on Friday with warmer temperatures expected to spread into the eastern states as well.

Out west, a low pressure system will move into California, Nevada, Oregon, and Washington with increasing shower activity. Many locations around the LA area have seen significant rainfall in the last 24 hours. Downtown LA has reported 0.65 inches, Beverly Hills reported 1.18 inches, and Burbank checked in with 1.34 inches. Snow will develop over the higher elevations of the Oregon Cascades and the Sierra Nevada Mountains of California. Winter Storm Warnings have been posted for the southern Sierra Nevada Mountains through Saturday where 1-2 feet of snow could fall, mainly about 7000 feet. The cooler and wetter pattern will continue this weekend and next week across the West.

WEATHER EXTREMES SO FAR TODAY:

HIGHEST TEMPERATURE (DEGREES F).............85 Gila Bend, AZ

............................................85 Casa Grande, AZ

HIGHEST HEAT INDEX (DEGREES F)..............85 Gila Bend, AZ

LOWEST TEMPERATURE (DEGREES F).............-29 Watertown, NY

LOWEST WIND CHILL (DEGREES F)..............-29 Watertown, NY

HIGHEST WIND GUST (MPH).....................64 Lake Palmdale, CA

HIGHEST PRECIPITATION (INCHES)............2.24 Walnut Creek, CA

ON THIS DATE IN HISTORY:

In 1978, a strong noreaster blankets New York with 18 inches of snow. Philadelphia received 16 inches. However, Boston was the hardest hit with 25 to 30 inches of snow. The mayor outlawed travel in the city for an entire week while crews worked to clear the roads.

In 1987, Brownsville, TX received 7 inches of rain in just two hours.

In 1989, arctic air plunged down across the western U.S. Forty-one cities recorded new record low temperatures. San Francisco, CA recorded a low of 31 while Reno, NV dropped to -15 degrees. Both were record lows for the month of February.

DTN-Meteorlogix

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