The nation's weather

Two weather features were forecast to bring active weather to the U.S. on Monday.

A low pressure system over the Western U.S. was expected to continue moving eastward, pushing a cold front over the Intermountain West and Great Basin. This system would push cool air in, allowing for snow to develop at higher elevations. Utah and Colorado were forecast to see between 1 to 2 inches of snow throughout the day, while the Northern Rockies would get up to 3 inches of snow. The Sierras and Cascades would dry out as the system passed, so only a few lingering clouds and drier conditions were expected across the West Coast. Temperatures would remain cooler with highs in the 50s and 60s.

Meanwhile in the East, a low pressure system that moved offshore of the Mid-Atlantic states was forecast to move northward and push a cold front onshore in the North. This front was expected to push over the Northeast and kick up scattered showers from New York and Pennsylvania to Maine. Higher elevations were forecast to see periods of snow, but most areas would see rain showers as highs remained in the 40s and 50s over most of the Northeast.

The South, after a chilly night with temperatures dripping to near freezing, would start to see warmer temperatures. A ridge of high pressure building over the Gulf of Mexico and Southeast, was forecast to bring sunny skies and warmer air in from the south. Highs were expected to return to the 70s.

In the center of the country, another unusually warm fall day was expected Monday. As the trough moved over the Rocky Mountains, the system would push warm air into the Plains from the South. This would bring another warm and sunny day with the Northern Plains and Upper Midwest remaining in the 60s and 70s, which is about 10 to 13 degrees warmer than seasonable in most areas. The Southern Plains would also remain warm with temperatures approaching 80.