Thursday's forecast: Big storm hammers West Coast
The nation's big weather story Thursday will be the huge storm on the West Coast, though snow will also fly in portions of the Northeast.
West: One of the most powerful storm in years will wallop California, Oregon and Washington with heavy snow, drenching rain and howling winds. Mudslides and floods are possible. The snow could bring blizzard conditions in the Sierra.
Northeast: The slow-moving storm will continue to spin in the Northeast Thursday. Snow will fly in the northern Appalachians, eastern Great Lakes and northern New England.
South: Light showers are likely in portions of Texas and the lower Mississippi Valley.
Weather history for Dec. 11: In 1862, fog aided Union troops preparing for the Battle of Fredericksburg, Va. In 1932, San Francisco dropped to its all-time record low temperature of 27 degrees.
In 2007, record highs were set in Knoxville (75 degrees) and Pittsburgh (67). In 2008, rare snow fell in the South, including 3 inches in Baton Rouge.