Friday's forecast: Stormy day for the West Coast
The big western storm will again be the nation's main weather story Friday, while nuisance precipitation pesters the Northeast and southern Plains.
West: Heavy rainfall, blizzard conditions in the mountains, and strong winds will hammer California through the day Friday. A swath of heavy rainfall, with amounts of 2 to 4 inches by Friday night, is likely, with the greatest amounts expected for central and northern parts of California. Storms will also pelt Oregon, Washington, Idaho and Nevada.
East: Most of the eastern half of the country will be on the chilly side Friday. Interior portions of the Northeast, from the Great Lakes to northern New England, will have plenty of snow showers and squalls.
Central U.S.: Most of the central U.S. will be mild and dry on Friday, except for some pesky showers in Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas and Arkansas.
Weather history for Dec. 12: In 1992, a powerful storm lashed New England with heavy snow and rain and howling winds. In 1995, a "monster storm" battered the West Coast, leaving 1.5 million people powerless.
In 2007, record high temperatures were set in Vicksburg, Miss., (81 degrees) and Greenville, S.C. (78 degrees).