Canada

Weather Underground midday recap for Thursday, November 20, 2008.

The most significant convective activity remained over the Pacific Northwest today. A cold front associated with a deepening trough of low pressure over the Gulf of Alaska, pushed across the Pacific Northwest Coast this morning. The front triggered moderate rain showers and thunderstorm activity along areas of the northwestern coast. Showers then spread further inland and over portions of the Intermountain West. Light showers were also detected over northwestern California.

Meanwhile, wintry weather persisted across the Great Lakes and portions of the Northeast today. Cold, northern winds blew across the warmer lakes and triggered areas of lake-effect snow showers across Michigan, Ohio, and the New England States. Snow showers spread to the southeast, over portions of the Ohio Valley and Mid-Atlantic. Strong northwest flow pushed cold, moist air across areas of West Virginia and Pennsylvania this afternoon and instigated significant amounts of snow showers. Areas of West Virginia have been placed under a winter storm warning as severe winter weather was expected to increase across the state.

Meanwhile, the Southeast remained dry and cool this morning. The majority of Georgia and Florida, as well as portions of southern Alabama, were placed under red flag warnings this afternoon as dry conditions and gusty winds made conditions favorable for fire weather.

Temperatures in the Lower 48 states Thursday have ranged from a morning low of -7 degrees at Mt. Washington, NH to a midday high of 87 degrees at Imperial, Calif.