Thursday's forecast: A cold start in the East

After a very chilly, winter-like couple of days, temperatures will be slightly milder Thursday across much of the central and eastern U.S. However, high temperatures will still be on the cool side, with forecast highs in the 40s in New England and the 50s and 60s across the Mid-Atlantic and Southeast.

A few showers are still possible in the Great Lakes and upper Midwest on Thursday, but nothing too heavy is likely. Some snowflakes could mix in with the rain in northern Minnesota, northwestern Wisconsin, and northern Michigan.

The other damp spot on Thursday will be the Pacific Northwest, where coastal and valley rain showers and mountain snow showers are expected.

Most of the Southwest, California and southern Plains will be mild and dry.

Weather history for Nov. 14: In 1964, the temperature dipped to -15 degrees in Ely, Nev., which was the coldest ever in November. In 1969, near Cape Canaveral, Fla., lightning struck the Apollo 12 rocket shortly after liftoff, temporarily damaging some on-board computers.

In 1993, Norfolk, Va., soared to 80 degrees. In 1995, a powerful nor'easter walloped the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic. Seven Springs, Pa., picked up 32 inches of snow, while winds gusted to 65 mph on Nantucket Island, Mass.