For the last couple weeks we've had a block over western Canada which has kept warm winds from coming in off the Pacific. Cold weather has come down from the north and this has spilled into the U.S.

Right now our feeling is precipitation totals will average 0.25 to 1 inch, with some locally heavier. The coverage should be pretty good. The possible exception to this is in the Texas panhandle, where it might be a little less.

It looks like the block is ending and warm air will soon spill into the northern Rockies and Plains. It will take longer for the warm weather to make it to the Midwest and Northeast. In about 10 days we may see above-normal temperatures throughout the Northeast.

We will see seasonable weather for the next couple days. On Wednesday and Thursday it will be a bit colder. Once we get to Friday and the weekend some of the warmth from the western U.S. will come eastward and we'll see highs in the low to mid 40s in New York and Boston.

It will cool down a bit Wednesday but still remain warmer than normal. By the weekend temperatures will fall to normal or maybe a few degrees below.

The Midwest and the plains, the natural gas areas, are even colder. Temperatures will fall to between 10 and 20 degrees below normal.