The nation's weather

Weather Underground midday recap for Thursday, March 14, 2013.

Cool conditions persisted for the East, while a few scattered showers moved through the Midwest on Thursday. High pressure over the Eastern states continued to pull in cool air from Canada. This allowed for highs to vary in the 30s for the Northeast and the 40s for the Mid-Atlantic states, while parts of northern Florida saw highs in the upper 50s. Frost and freeze advisories were in effect for parts of the Southeast Thursday morning, as early morning lows dropped into the lower 30s and upper 20s.

Meanwhile, in the Plains, a weak trough of low pressure with limited moisture slide across the Midwest. This kicked up a few widespread snow showers, which turned to rain showers once it reached into the Mid-Mississippi River Valley. Behind this system, flow from the south allowed for a warming trend to spread across the Plains. The Central and Northern Plains saw highs in the 50s, while the Southern Plains saw highs in the 70s.

Out West, onshore flow persisted from the Pacific Ocean and into the Pacific Northwest, but most of the moisture associated with this system remained to the north and spread across western Canada. However, parts of northwestern Washington saw rain showers, with a few rain and snow showers in extending into northern Idaho and northern Montana.

Temperatures in the Lower 48 states Thursday have ranged from a morning low of -11 degrees at Land O Lakes, Wis. to a midday high of 91 degrees at Palm Springs, Calif.