NATIONAL SUMMARY                   
 
High pressure was settled over much of the Midwest and Northeast 
yesterday, keeping conditions dry and relatively calm yesterday. An 
area of low pressure over southern Georgia and northern Florida 
sparked strong thunderstorms across the Southeast. The storms brought 
gusty winds, heavy downpours, hail, and even isolated tornadoes. A 
powerful low pressure system began to strengthen, providing rainfall 
for the Dakotas and Minnesota. On the backside of the system, snow 
began to fall over the mountains of Wyoming, Montana and Idaho. Winds 
also gusted over Southern California and Arizona as a cold front 
progressed southward. Today, high pressure will continue in the 
Northeast, making for a beautiful start to the weekend. There will be 
a few lingering showers and storms over Florida and coastal sections 
of the Carolinas and Georgia as the low pressure moves offshore. The 
potent storm system will only continue to intensify with more snow 
falling in the Intermountain West and rainfall over the northern 
Plains and Upper Midwest. Total snowfall accumulations will be over a 
foot in the mountains with a few locations over a foot and half. Most 
areas at lower elevations will receive 3-6 inches of snow over the 
weekend. Winds will continue gusting in excess of 40 mph across the 
Southwest and Southern California. This will create blowing dust and 
sand as well as dangerous crosswinds making for treacherous travel.