Thursday's forecast: Cool Northern tier, dry West
A chilly, damp day is forecast for the Great Lakes and Northeast Thursday while the West stays clear and dry.
Great Lakes, Northeast: A few snowflakes are forecast for these areas as temperatures stay in the cool 30s, 40s and 50s.
West: Other than some high-elevation snow in the northern Rockies, most of the western U.S. will see clear skies and mild to warm temperatures on Thursday.
South: Afternoon showers and thunderstorms will soak a few portions of the Gulf Coast from Texas to Florida. High temperatures will be in the pleasant 70s and 80s for most of the region.
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Weather history for March 17: In 1906, the USA's all-time coldest March temperature of 50 degrees below zero was set in Snake River, Wyo. In 1956, a St. Patrick's Day snowstorm blasted the Northeast and New England with up to 20 inches of snow.