More than 60 million people across the country are under winter weather warnings after a powerful storm system battered the Northeast after Christmas, while another atmospheric river continued to pummel California with torrential rain, strong winds and dangerous conditions.
Forecasters warned that these systems could disrupt flights and road trips as millions of Americans head home after the holidays.
The severe weather is expected to continue for several days, with impacts stretching from the West Coast to the Northeast. Forecasters said conditions on the ground could change quickly, affecting everything from short drives to long trips. Below is information about the most affected areas.
Ice and snow weather is expected in Northeast China
The tri-state area is expected to bear the brunt of a major winter storm on Friday, with snow, sleet and freezing rain expected to make travel dangerous. Accumulating snow is expected in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut from Friday into early Saturday. Some forecast models suggest parts of New York and New Jersey could see up to 9 inches of snow, depending on the storm’s path.
The storm has disrupted air travel in the region. At least 1,300 flights had been canceled across the United States as of Friday morning, according to flight tracking service FlightAware, with delays expected to increase as the storm intensifies.
Snowfall totals of about 1 to 6 inches are expected in northeastern Pennsylvania, much of New Jersey, much of New York state, and parts of southern and central New England, with higher amounts possible north of New York City and in the western highlands.
The system is also expected to bring sleet and freezing rain to parts of Pennsylvania, Maryland, West Virginia and northern Virginia. Cities including Philadelphia, Baltimore and Washington, D.C. could see winter mix
California: Record rainfall, flooding and ongoing storm threat
On December 24, after heavy rain, the water level of the Los Angeles River was high. (Apu Gomes/AFP via Getty Images)
On the West Coast, California is facing dangerous conditions from powerful atmospheric river systems bringing flooding, high winds and heavy snow to the state.
Gov. Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency in several counties including Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego and Shasta on Wednesday as atmospheric river storms brought heavy rainfall, strong winds and an ongoing threat of flooding.
The storm has turned deadly, with at least three deaths reported in Southern California.
Record rainfall hit parts of Southern California earlier this week, with some areas seeing their wettest Christmas Eve or Christmas week rainfall in decades.
Continued rainfall increases the threat of mudslides, especially in areas recently burned by wildfires. Officials urged residents to avoid flooded roads and be prepared to evacuate if conditions worsen.
Sierra Nevada: Heavy snow, avalanche risk and dangerous travel
At higher elevations, the same storm system is bringing dangerous winter weather to the Sierra Nevada, making mountain travel hazardous in parts of California and western Nevada.
Avalanche warnings were issued for parts of the mountains as heavy snow and strong winds destabilized the mountains. Forecasters said 5 to 10 feet of snow could accumulate in some high-elevation areas, greatly increasing avalanche risk and making weekend travel especially dangerous.
The storm hits during one of the busiest tourist times of the year. AAA estimates that more than 122 million Americans are expected to travel at least 50 miles during the year-end holiday season, raising the possibility of widespread delays as severe weather sweeps across the country.
