Breakfast Brief - Cold snap settles East, heat for West

Winter has made a return visit to the eastern U.S. Many are waking up to frosty and even frozen landscapes while the western U.S. starts to see its first day of above-average temperatures. The Breakfast Brief is published Monday through Friday at 5:00 a.m. Eastern Time.

A potent cold front, helping to push out the last of the strong storm system that brought waves of flooding rains and tornadic storms, is leading the way for a cold air mass descending from the north and northwest. By this morning's commute, more cool colors will cover the TemperatureRadar with snow showing up on the WeatherRadar across the Great Lakes and Northeast.

The cold weather extends all the way to the Sunshine State and while no records will be broken, the highs will only reach the low to mid-70s, a refreshing twist for a Florida April! South Florida will still have above-average temperatures since the cold front will make its way through later in the afternoon.

With the cold front comes rain and storms for Florida covering both the morning and evening commute. Have the WeatherRadar handy and watch for flash flooding in poor drainage areas.

Very quiet skies will be present across the central U.S. to the Tennessee Valley and Southeast. After the flooding rains, rivers are still rising. While today provides sunshine to help dry things out, rain is in the forecast starting Wednesday for many recently impacted. Take a look here.

To the West, the Pacific Northwest will have the busiest forecast as another storm system moves inland. Light snow and rain showers will also spread across the northern and central Rockies. A break from the wet and snowy pattern comes Wednesday evening into Thursday before the next storm makes its way into the Pacific Northwest.

With severe weather chances increasing during the spring season, have your knowledge toolbox ready to go by using these tips!