A large high pressure system centered over Colorado will dominate the weather over most of the western United States, while another high pressure system will ridge across the Eastern Seaboard. Many locations under the influence of these weather systems should have less than a 50 percent cloud cover.

The very best prospects for clear weather include: Southeast Kansas, southwest Missouri, western Arkansas, most of Oklahoma and northern and central Texas, as well as the region from southern New Jersey, south through eastern Virginia, eastern and central North Carolina, much of South Carolina to central and southern Georgia.

However, there will be several regions where clouds will threaten to obscure a part, if not all of the big meteor show. Here they are, going from west-to-east.

WASHINGTON, OREGON, IDAHO & WESTERN MONTANA

A moist southwesterly airflow from off of the Pacific Ocean is likely to cause widespread cloud cover, as well as some rain over these regions. Along the Pacific coast of Washington, up to an inch of rainfall is expected. A possibility for some good breaks in the clouds and drier conditions exists over the Columbia Plateau of southeast Washington, eastern Oregon and southwest Idaho.

GREAT LAKES, GREATER OHIO VALLEY, DEEP SOUTH

A cold front will extend from eastern Michigan, south to Louisiana by Tuesday morning and will push a swath of clouds and precipitation out ahead of it. Snow showers are expected over the Lakes region; rain showers farther south. Up to a quarter of an inch of rain may fall over parts of Louisiana. Clouds will be low and thick west of a line from the western part of New York and Pennsylvania, south to the Tennessee/North Carolina border and down to the Gulf Coast of Mississippi/Alabama.

High clouds may extend across much of the rest of New York and Pennsylvania, south through western and central Virginia, down to the Panhandle of Florida. Some patchy thin/high clouds may also reach as far east as New England.

EAST COAST OF FLORIDA

Low ocean clouds pushed west by onshore northeast wind may adversely affect parts of Florida's immediate Atlantic coast. Better weather will be found a short drive farther inland (to the west).

It should be noted that the above predictions are fairly generalized, and that you should consult your local weather forecast for a more specific outlook. For a complete set of links of National Weather Service forecast offices nationwide (courtesy of the Taunton, Massachusetts National Weather Service) http://www.erh.noaa.gov/box/nwsoffices.htm.

Dismal Outlook for You? Try Listening to the Leonids

Below: Live satellite images of cloud cover