Storms aim at Great Lakes, Ohio Valley

Storms that had slammed into the Plains took aim at the Great Lakes and Ohio Valley early today, while winds and heavy rain whipped through the Mississippi Valley.

Forecasters predicted a chance for severe weather in Missouri and Arkansas. There is also a slight chance for severe weather through much of the rest of the Mississippi Valley.

A low in the Plains was to produce cool rain in the northern Plains and upper Midwest, while high elevation snow was on tap in the Rockies. Strong winds will remain in the western Plains.

Some very welcome rain was forecast in the Southeast and Gulf Coast, bringing a tiny bit of help to the drought conditions through the region.

Another Pacific low pressure system was to slam into the Northwest, sparking both rain and high elevation snow in the Cascades and later moving into northern California.

Winter weather advisories are scattered through the West in anticipation of the winter-like weather and wind advisories are in effect for parts of the Northwest.

The Southern Plains and parts of the Southeast will rise into the 80s and 90s, while the Northeast will see temperatures in the 60s and 70s. The Rockies will rise into the 30s and 40s, while the Northwest will see temperatures from the 30s to the 50s.

Temperatures in the Lower 48 states on Wednesday ranged from a low of 17 degrees at Bryce Canyon, Utah, to a high of 98 degrees at Laredo, Texas.