Today's Weather Outlook

After a quieter start to the week, Mother Nature reminds us we are still in the thick of winter today. Multiple weather systems bring rain, snow and even a wintry mix to the West and Northern Tier.

One low pressure system will spin over the north-central U.S. today. A warm front associated with this low pressure will also lift across the eastern U.S. The combination of the low pressure system and warm front will bring wet, wintry weather to the north-central and eastern U.S.

The northern Plains and Upper Mississippi Valley will have snow throughout the day. Expect moderate to heavy snow in the morning and afternoon, tapering to flurries or light snow for the rest of the day. Strong winds will also accompany the snow. Difficult to near impossible travel will be expected across these areas given icy, snowy roads, blowing snow and reduced to near whiteout visibility.

Things get more complicated over the Upper Great Lakes into southern New England. There will be a mix of snow, sleet and freezing rain for much of the day in the Upper Great Lakes. Southern New England will generally be dry into the early afternoon, then snow or a mix of snow, sleet and freezing rain develops in the late afternoon and evening. Slick, slippery roads will also be anticipated here.

Rain showers will be possible across the Lower Midwest, southern Mid-Atlantic and Southeast. A rumble or two of thunder also cannot be ruled out.

Meanwhile, a second low pressure system will push across the Mountain West. This will also bring widespread precipitation along and west of the Rockies. Most areas will see snow for the middle of the week. However, coastal locations and lower elevations will just have rain showers.

The heaviest snow will likely be found along the Sierra Nevada as well as the Great Basin into the central and southern Rockies. Hazardous travel conditions will occur throughout much of the West, especially in the tallest mountain passes.

The central and southern Plains will be under the influence of high pressure, which will provide dry and quiet weather. While there could be a few flurries or light snow showers early, largely dry weather will be in the forecast for northern New England.

Unseasonably mild weather is expected east of the Rocky Mountains, while cold and below normal temperatures cover the western third of the nation.

The coldest temperatures will occur on the eastern slopes of the Rockies in Montana. Here, high temperatures could remain below zero throughout the day. Otherwise, Montana will report single digits, teens and lower 20s. The taller elevations of the Mountain West will have temperatures climb into the 20s, while 30s and 40s cover the lower elevations. The northern Plains, Upper Mississippi Valley, Upper Great Lakes and the Northeast will observe 30s and 40s.

Milder 50s and 60s are in store for most of California and the Desert Southwest into the central Plains, Lower Midwest and Mid-Atlantic. Seventies will occur in the southern Plains eastward into the Southeast, with scattered to widespread 80s for southern Texas and far southern Florida.