Tropical Storm Ida is slowly strengthening, as it heads north-northwest towards an encounter with Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula. Infrared satellite loops show that Ida's heavy thunderstorms are expanding
Weather Underground Forecast for Saturday, November 07, 2009.
Another wet day is expected over the Pacific Northwest on Saturday as a strong and moist low pressure system continues spinning in the North Pacific. The system will pick up abundant moisture and spread moderate to heavy precipitation over Washington and Oregon, which will start to stretch into the Northern Rockies and Intermountain West. Expect another day with 1-2 inches of rain at lower elevations, with snowfall accumulation ranging from 6-12 inches in the Cascades. Winds will strengthen over the region, with gusts up to 20 mph and coastal regions seeing gusts up to 30 mph and dangerous surf with wave heights near 7 feet. Another cool day is anticipated as highs remain in the 50s. Meanwhile, the Northern Rockies will not see significant precipitation from this event on Saturday. Northern California will see another cloudy and cool day, but rain is not anticipated.
Elsewhere, dry and mild weather is expected over the Plains and Mississippi River Valley on Saturday as a strong ridge of high pressure continues building over the region. This will allow for highs to approach 60 in the Upper Midwest, while the Southern Plains will reach into the lower 80s. The ridge will extend to the East Coast on Saturday and will bring cool air in from the north over most of the coast. Daytime conditions will be warm and sunny, while overnight lows will dip into the 30s, allowing for frost and freeze advisories to remain in effect over the Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern states.
Temperatures in the Lower 48 states Friday ranged from a low of 14 degrees at West Yellowstone, Mont. to a high of 91 degrees at Canadian, Texas.
On this date in 1940, Galloping Gertie Bridge in Tacoma, Wash. collapsed in high winds. It turns out the bridge spans were evenly spaced, causing the bridge to vibrate wildly with a regular frequency in high winds. Since then, bridges have been built with uneven spans.