Northeast vs the Southwest

Map plotted by Digital Atmosphere which is available at weathergraphics.com.

It's a tale of two weather regimes. The northeast is getting another taste of winter while parts of southern California are facing more fires.

A winter storm is organizing over the Great Lakes tonight and will spread moderate to heavy snow from the lower Great Lakes to New England during the next two days. Behind the storm lake effect snows are for areas western Lower Michigan and central Upper Michigan.

Then there is the west. Large high pressure centered over the Great Basin is creating strong winds in Southern California. The weather is favorable for continuing fires with the wind and single digit relative humidity. 

In between, gusty northerly winds along a cold front are bringing colder air to the Upper Midwest. The colder air is wrapping around the backside of the developing low over the Great Lakes.