Winter weather in California includes snowfall of over 6 feet in the southern parts of the state
Multiple Storms and Blizzard Warnings from the Upper Mississippi River Valley and the U.S. Midwest during a Wet Snowmass
A strong storm system bringing heavy rain, mountain snow and gale forcewind gusts to much of the western United States left more than 115,000 people without power while the region braces for more wet, blustery weather in coming days.
Another storm that began on Monday was predicted to drop even more snow on California, the worst of it coming Tuesday night into Wednesday. But it wasn’t expected to be as strong as the weekend’s weather, the National Weather Service in San Diego said.
A multi-day severe storm threat begins Monday for parts of the South and southern central US. A slight threat for severe weather has been issued for parts of western and central Kansas and Oklahoma into northwestern Texas.
The threat is strong as the system heads east Tuesday, impacting a large swath of the Lower Mississippi River Valley. Baton Rouge, New Orleans and Shreveport, Louisiana and Jackson, Mississippi could see tornadoes, high wind gusts and damaging hail.
“If this forecast holds, Blizzard Warnings are likely for the second half of the storm. When and exactly where the threat transitions from snow to poor roads and poor visibility will come as we get closer, the weather service office in Twin Cities explained.
Blizzard warnings continued in the mountains and flood advisories blanketed the region, but forecasters offered some relief, predicting the storm would taper off later in the day.
“This amount of snow will result in the passes needing to be closed for a period of time which will impact traffic getting to and from Los Angeles,” The National Weather Service office in Hanford, California said.
The forecaster with the National Weather Service office in Reno said the snowpack is more than twice what he would expect in December.
It seems a lot like Christmas out here. It did not come with a lot of wind, and it stuck to everything. It is a picture postcard.
While he noted the snow totals so far are impressive, Deutschendorf said he is “cautiously optimistic” about this precipitation putting a big dent in the state’s drought.
Snow in Olympic Valley, California, Seemed by the Buried Ski Resort in the Biggs and Littlest ski resorts in the state of California
On its website, the ski resort said it was Buried, and shared pictures of thick snow in Olympic Valley, California.
Kihara said they had never seen this amount of snow up here. We woke up to it. It picked up a lot in the course of the night. Lots of trees are falling and all the roads around us are closed. Power is out and has been mostly gone since Tuesday.”
“Nearly (the) entire population of California will be able to see snow from some vantage point later this week if they look in the right direction,” according to Daniel Swain, a climate scientist at the University of California, Los Angeles. “Snow remains very unlikely in California’s major cities, but it’ll fall quite nearby.”
The incoming arctic front will then cross over the northern Rockies, Great Basin and Northern Plains regions, sending temperatures plummeting as low as minus 30 degrees and winds gusting as fast as 60 mph.
By Friday, temperatures could hit the season’s lowest in what is only the first week of winter. Even northern Florida cities like Jacksonville and Tallahassee could see a chill as low as 20 F on Christmas Eve.
The Long-Term Weather Outlook for Northern California After a Super-Saturated Superstorm on Tuesday, May 3. Wind and Ice Forecasts for the First Day of The Big Storm
Flight Aware says that there were more than 575 delays and 285 cancelations at airports across the U.S., as of Tuesday morning.
An outage that left 180,000 without power across New England over the weekend was resolved by Monday, but the Associated Press reported that attempts to bring extra utility workers into the state ahead of this week’s storm were stymied by slick roads.
Frostbite is another risk for those trying to brave the cold, the NWS says. Subzero temperatures in some parts of the U.S. this week could lead to frostbite on exposed skin in as little as 10 minutes.
Those venturing outside should dress in layers, cover their skin and change into dry clothing as soon as possible. Staying indoors is the best prevention according to experts.
There is a chance for power to be out in certain areas and areas of tree damage because of the combination of strong winds and ice.
The storm was pulling in a large area of warm water from the ocean. Flooding and rock slides closed portions of roads across Northern California.
More than 15 million people in the West are under wind alerts from the National Weather Service through at least Tuesday evening as the storm system pushes inland.
Winds are forecast to be around 40-50 mph in the valleys and up to 70 mph in the mountains, which is lower than the storm earlier this week, but still nothing to brush off.
The weather service in San Francisco said on Friday that trees will be brought down because of saturated conditions and weakened trees from the last event.
The heat domes and the dry summers cause trees to lose their power to fight off pathogens, so it takes up a lot of their energy.
Los Angeles Day of December 26, 1996: Mixing of Storms and Mudslides in a Los Angeles, Calif., Area
Portland recorded 2.12 inches of rain, breaking the old record of 1.08 inches set on December 26, 1996. Monday was the third rainiest day of the year.
The forecast center said the region can expect up to 4 inches of rain on Saturday, potentially leading to flooding in areas east and south of Los Angeles.
The weather service had warned of the risk of flash floods and mudslides overnight in areas that were burned by the fires. The zone included downtown L.A., Hollywood, Beverly Hills, and many other suburbs.
The National Weather Service in Los Angeles offered farewell to the warmth. There will be a huge drop in temperatures between today and Tuesday. Expect 15-20 degrees of cooling thanks to the approaching storm system.”
On Wednesday and Thursday, temperatures will run 30 to 40 degrees below normal for the northern Rockies and northern Plains, while temperatures run 20 to 30 degrees above normal for the Southeast and mid-Atlantic.
A flood threat will be caused by the heavy rain Friday through Saturday in Northern and Central California. An active jet stream pattern will continue to bring a parade of storms fueled by an atmospheric river of Pacific moisture.
That means New Year’s Eve celebrations Saturday will likely be dampened in New York City and Washington, DC. Los Angeles will also ring in a wet new year.
Highway Changes after the Sacramento Foothills, Calif., Deaths After a Super-Weak Winter Storm Induced by a Snowfall
The first of the heavier storms was due to arrive Monday, and the weather service issued a flood watch for a large swath of Northern and Central California with 6 to 12 inches (15 to 30 centimeters) of rain expected through Wednesday in the Sacramento-area foothills.
It is expected that the heaviest rain will fall between 7 and 1 a.m. on Sunday. Most of the day will see temperatures near 50.
The Weather Prediction Center said that the areas that are subject to a slight risk are high in soil Moisture, burn scars and urban areas.
Drivers in Colorado were stranded for nine hours after a stretch of I-70 was closed due to heavy mountain snow.
The trees fell on passing cars in Oregon killing five people, including a girl, state police said.
Parts of Southern California are likely to get an intense brew of rain, snow, and winds that could cause flooding.
A Sacramento Municipal Utility District online map showed more than 153,000 customers were affected by power outages on Saturday. The utility said it was preparing additional resources while working to restore power after the powerful winter storm hit.
There were many road changes, including a partially closed Highway 70 east of Chico, and a portion of Highway 49 east of San Francisco which was closed because of flooding. A portion of Highway 50 was closed east of the capital city due to flooding.
The California New Year’s Eve Flood Presented by a Storm in 1994, When Public Works Across the Elliptical Bridge became a Waterfall
The New Year’s Eve rain was the second-wettest day on record behind a November 1994 deluge, according to the National Weather Service. The streets of San Francisco were covered in mud-colored water and a staircase in Oakland became a waterfall due to heavy rains.
The California Highway Patrol said a section of U.S. 101 — one of the state’s main traffic arteries — was closed indefinitely south of San Francisco because of flooding. The staircase in Oakland transformed into a waterfall after heavy rains, and mud colored water flowed along San Francisco streets.
The storm could dump over an inch of rain in the area before moving to the south. A ski resort south of Lake Tahoe had to close chair lifts because of flooding and operational problems and posted a photo on social media showing one lift tower surrounded by water.
The Sacramento agency released a map of 24-hour precipitation through Saturday morning, showing a wide range of totals in the region, from less than an inch (2.54 centimeters) in some areas to more than 5 inches (12.7 centimeters) in the Sierra foothills.
The Stockton Police Department posted photos of a flooded railroad underpass and a car that appeared stalled in more than a foot (30 centimeters) of water.
“However, in the past three months, Oregon has been slightly drier than normal and California has been slightly wetter than normal (the opposite of what is expected),” Arcodia told CNN. While El Niño and La Niña patterns typically have a large influence on seasonal conditions in the West Coast, “there are always additional factors at play,” she added.
According to the National Weather Service’s Eureka office, the roads inHumboldt County began to flood after the earthquake. A bridge that was temporarily closed last week due to earthquake damage may be closed again if the Eel River, which it crosses, gets too high, officials said.
The Sierra Storm System Expected to Roll Over Over the Next Week: Winds, Flooding, Power Outages, and Ice Breakdowns
It was the first of several storms expected to roll across California over the next week. Hannah said the current system would be warmer and more wet than next week’s storms.
“Strong winds could cause tree damage and lead to power outages and high waves on Lake Tahoe may capsize small vessels,” the weather service in Reno said.
On the Sierra’s eastern front, flood watches and warnings were issued into the weekend north and south of Reno, Nevada, where minor to moderate flooding was forecast along some rivers and streams.
More than 4 feet (1.2 meters) of snow had accumulated in the high Sierra Nevada, and the Mammoth Mountain Ski Area said heavy, wet snow would cause major delays in chairlift openings. The resort reported lift closings on Saturday because of high winds, low visibility and ice.
In Southern California, several people were rescued after floodwaters inundated cars in San Bernardino and Orange counties. No serious injuries were reported.
With the region drying out on New Year’s Day and no rainfall expected during Monday’s Rose Parade in Pasadena, spectators began staking out their spots for the annual floral spectacle.
A storm system caused the precipitation to come as a rare storm warning was in effect for parts of southern California.
The heavy snow and strong winds can ultimately result in near zero visibility for those in the area, even when snow stops falling because high winds can blow the flakes off the ground. Weather alerts have urged extreme caution when traveling.
When the ground is saturated from record rains earlier in the week and the new rain is expected this weekend, even a 40 mph wind can damage it.
Impacts to infrastructure include, but are not limited to; river flooding, mudslides, power outages and snow load.
Saturday’s rain will hit already soaked grounds, exacerbating impacts of possible flooding as the region faces back-to-back storms this week. In late December into January, much the state was thrashed with rounds of deadly flooding.
The rainfall over the weekend will bring renewed concerns for local streams, creeks, and rivers. The Colgan Creek, Berryessa Creek, Mark West Creek, Green Valley Creek, and the Cosumnes River all have gauges either currently above flood stage or expected to be in the next few days.
Forecast Patterns in the Pacific Northwest during the Combined El Nio, La Nia, and July 4th Oscillation
The Climate Prediction Center gives guidelines for what the overall forecast can be during a seasonal time period.
During a La Nia, the Pacific Northwest and Southern California tend to see more precipitation than normal. The jet stream has a wavier pattern and is being pushed farther north. “
“Atmospheric rivers typically form during the winter months and can occur during El Niños or La Niñas,” Arcodia said, noting their strength, frequency, and landfall location can be influenced by the larger patterns in the Pacific.
Michael Tippett, a professor of physics and mathematics at Columbia University, points out that the forecast patterns are not meant to be used on a day-to-day forecast scale but rather the entire season as a whole. This is why you need to do research on the patterns.
There is an element of randomness that is not explained by the patterns. This could help us understand why one year is different from the other.
State climatologist Michael Anderson told a news briefing late Saturday that officials were closely monitoring Monday’s incoming storm and another behind it and were keeping an eye on three other systems farther out in the Pacific.
Editor’s Note: A version of this article originally appeared in the weekly weather newsletter, the CNN Weather Brief, which is released every Monday. You can sign up here to receive them every week and during significant storms.
The Pacific Northwest has already seen a lot of snow this season and the storm is showing signs of life along the West Coast.
Blizzard warnings are in place for southern Wyoming, where nearly two feet of snow and winds gusting more than 70 mph will create blinding conditions. The weather service warns of the possibility of wind chill values of 25 degrees below zero.
The service said the ice storm warning extended from central Iowa to theWisconsin-Illinois line and through southern Michigan, making this morning’s travel nearly impossible.
Boston and New York City are under winter weather advisories that could see up to 6 inches of snow. Central Park could get up to 3 inches of snow by Tuesday afternoon.
There will be record highs on Thursday from Ohio to Florida. It’s possible that highs could be as high as 35 degrees for parts of the Southeast, Mid-Atlantic and Ohio Valley.
Whether you are buried under three feet of snow and experiencing frigid temperatures or basking in the sunshine and record warmth, this week will touch nearly all corners of the country with wild weather.
Residents of Northern states in the U.S. are starting to hunker down as heavy snow and high winds are predicted to create whiteout conditions on Wednesday.
Transportation, Elementary Schools and Transportation Control in Minnesota After Two Months of Air Traffic Angularly and Temperature Affected by a Cold Front
In Minneapolis, Chicago, Milwaukee and Detroit the airports have faced a number of Cancellations. On Wednesday, more than 1,600 flights were canceled and an additional 5,200 were delayed. As of Thursday, more than 1,700 flights were canceled and almost 10,000 were delayed.
Schools across Minnesota announced closures as the state’s governor said on Twitter he would direct the state’s National Guard, transportation department and state patrol to be ready to respond.
In California, a trailing cold front could send wind speeds as high as 50-60 mph, threatening power lines. More than 119,000 homes and businesses are without power in the state’s Central Valley.
As temperatures in Southern California might not rise above 50 degrees, parts of the Southeast and mid-Atlantic are expected to see highs in the 70s and 80s on Wednesday.
The temperature in Virginia will be in the 80s while in northern Maine it will be below freezing, according to the NWS bulletin.
The highway patrol said that search and rescue operations had started in several counties to recover motorists who became trapped in heavy snow.
The Minnesota State Patrol said more than 160 vehicle crashes were reported and dozens of cars spun off the road on Wednesday because of the 3-7 inches of snow that blanketed the state. Lt. A series of messages was sent by Gordon Shank.
State Sensitivities to Wisconsin Snow and High-Temperature Temperatures during a First-Law Superheat Wave
In Wisconsin – similarly hit by snow since Tuesday in the north and freezing rain Wednesday in the south – Gov. Tony Evers declared a statewide energy emergency Wednesday, saying it will “allow for a more swift and efficient restoration of any electric power outages throughout the state,” a news release from his office said.
A rare blizzard warning remains in effect for parts of Southern California – including the Los Angeles region – Saturday as some areas endure heavy snow and record rainfall that has delivered dangerous flooding.
The dueling winter storm and southern heat wave created a stark 100-degree temperature difference between the Northern Rockies and the South earlier this week.
The Green Bay international airport canceled the rest of its daily flights Wednesday night and most of its flights Thursday morning.
• Maine government offices closed: Gov. Janet Mills announced that state offices would be closed Thursday as the storm “is expected to bring significant snowfall to most of the state,” her office said in a release.
In February, Atlanta had an all-time record of 81 degrees. Washington, D.C., reached 79 degrees, New Orleans reached 83 degrees and Nashville, Tenn., was 80 degrees on Wednesday.
The unusual warm temperatures seen in Southern and Mid-Atlantic states were noted by the National Weather Service. On Thursday, temperatures in Nashville, Tennessee, andRichmond, Va., hit 80 and 83 degrees, respectively.
Statewide Flood Warnings for Heavy Rain and Icing in the Los Angeles County and Midland Areas on Friday and Sunday, and Michigan’s Power Outage.us Revisited
On Friday, forecasters also urged mariners near the coast of the state’s San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara counties to “seek safe harbor immediately” — warning of severe thunderstorms that could produce sudden waterspouts, powerful enough to “easily overturn boats.” The two counties are at risk of having tornadoes on land.
The area has been issued a freeze warning for Friday night through Saturday morning. The sub-freezing conditions will be especially dangerous to unsheltered populations, crops and unprotected outdoor plumbing.
Michigan in particular was hit with freezing rain and ice that disrupted travel and was risky for livestock and infrastructure. Port Austin and Midland saw the most snow, with 8 inches and 8.9 inches respectively. The southern portion of the state had high amounts of ice according to the National Weather Service.
There is still a chance of more light snow in some parts of southeast Michigan. On Friday, temperatures across the state will be below freezing. By Sunday, the weather is expected to warm up.
Heavy rain and snow turned some Los Angeles-area roads into rivers on Friday, prompting a flash flood warning from the weather service.
The Weather Prediction Center said overnight flash flooding was ongoing in the north and west of Los Angeles, and there was more expected over the weekend.
A flood watch remains in effect for southwestern California, and San Diego is expected to receive up to 2.5 inches of precipitation.
The same system that wreaked havoc in California and many other states across the country is still impacting many people in the Midwest.
Power Outage.us claims nearly half a million Michigan homes and businesses were still in the dark Saturday, after a powerful storm created dangerous icing conditions. Wayne County accounted for the most outages at more than 150,000.
DTE won’t be able to restore service to most customers before Sunday due to the storms, but it is restoring power to stricken areas.
Minneapolis, Minnesota, Authorities declared a One-Day Snow Emergency and High-Contrast Flooding After a Two-Country Breakout
In Minnesota, Minneapolis officials declared a one-day snow emergency Friday due to heavy snow, and city crews have been plowing and treating streets. The city was hammered with more than 13 inches in a three-day period this week.
According to a message on the Massachusetts State Police website, icy conditions may have contributed to the pileup.
The National Weather Service is expecting at most 2 to 3 feet (60 to 90 centimeters) of snow in the higher peaks, and there will probably be more snow by the end of the day.
The weather service said flooding had ended in both counties after heavy rain early Saturday.
Brian Wheeler from Consumers Energy said that half an inch of ice weighed down power lines and was equivalent to the weight of a baby grand piano.
In Kalamazoo, Michigan, Allison Rinker was using a borrowed generator to keep her 150-year-old house warm Saturday after two nights in the cold and dark.
“We were all alive, but not so well on the second day,” she said. When the heat returned, it was like a complete flip in attitude as we were able to have one or two lights running.
“The ice that was falling off the trees as it was melting was hitting our windshield so hard, I was afraid it was going to crack,” she said. “There’s just tree limbs everywhere, half of the trees just falling down. The destruction is insane, that’s right.
a Major Winter Storm Has Provoked Blzzard and Flood Warnings Across California: Three Dead and One Kiloparsec of Snow
By Saturday afternoon, the low-pressure system was expected to bring widespread rain and snow to southern Nevada and northwest Arizona.
Yet the cold weather blasting the North and West avoided the southern states, leading to wild temperatures differences. The high temperature on Friday was 93 degrees Celsius (34 degrees Fahrenheit) at Falcon Lake, Texas while the low was minus 35 degrees Fahrenheit (1.7 Celsius) near Huntley.
At least three people have died in the coast-to-coast storms. A firefighter died after coming into contact with a power line in Michigan, while a man in Rochester, Minnesota, died after being hit by a snowplow. Authorities in Portland, Oregon, said a person died of hypothermia.
Portland’s second-heaviest snowfall on record was the reason why much of the city was shut down.
Tim Varner was covered with blankets in a doorway, shielding him from the wind, snow and ice. Local officials opened six overnight shelters but the 57-year-old, who has been homeless for two decades, said it was too hard to push a shopping cart containing his belongings to reach one.
Source: https://www.npr.org/2023/02/25/1159560284/a-major-winter-storm-has-prompted-blizzard-and-flood-warnings-across-california
Instability of a Car in the Midwest during a National Snowstorm and Forecast for Washington, D.C., February 2-4
He said it was impossible. “The snow gets built up on the wheels of your cart and then you find slippery spots and can’t get no traction. So you’re stuck.”
There were several inches of rain in Holy Jim Canyon, Lower Silverado Canyon and Henshaw Dam, as well as Mount Woodson and Carlsbad Airport.
The storm made for dangerous travel conditions in some areas. In Los Padres National Forest, State Route 33 was closed due to rock slides and erosion from this and previous storms, according to video from the California Department of Transportation.
Boston is forecast to get up to four inches of snow through Tuesday night, which would be its biggest snowfall of the season as well. On January 23 the city received 2.3 inches of snow. Boston has seen less snow this season than it did at the same time last year, which Miller said was between 3 and 10 inches.
The winter parking rules were quickly removed due to a warmer than average weather pattern in February, according to the city.
Parts of central Pennsylvania are expected to get 1-2 inches of precipitation, including snow and sleet in the valleys and 2 to 4 inches on higher ground. Parts of New York could see as much as a half inch of ice and up to two inches of snow.
The region is experiencing normal number of storms and the amount of precipitation is more than the amount of snow, according to Miller.
The period between snow events is likely to increase as the climate warms, and may be especially true for Northeastern cities. The National Climate Assessment says that the rain-snow line shifts farther north as the Northeast’s temperatures warm.
It isn’t just the Northeast. Meteorological winter, which spans December, January, and February, is also the fastest-warming season for 75% of 238 US locations, according to Climate Central’s data analysis.
Winter Storm US-Tuesday: Traffic Flows and Snowfall Conditions in the Santa Monica Mountains During the Los Angeles County Firefighters Cutoff
The state of New York is bracing for freezing rain, snow and wind gusts of 40 miles per hour.
The sheriff of San Bernardino County said some residents in the San Bernardino Mountains are trapped by the snow, so they’re watching their gas stations run low on supplies.
As crews work to create single-lane pathways on roads for first responders, San Bernardino County declared a local emergency Monday to seek state and federal assistance with clearing the snow, officials said.
Among those trapped were more than 600 students who were scheduled to return home last Friday but got stuck at their camps due to the storm. The children were taken down the mountain by the California Highway Patrol to be with their families.
“If you plan to travel by road at elevations above 1,000 feet through West Coast states, be prepared for rapidly changing conditions and have winter driving supplies,” the National Weather Service warned.
Travelers can’t travel at all through the early Wednesday morning hours. Strong winds could cause tree damage and power outages. The National Weather Service office in Reno said that if you risk travel you could be stranded for hours.
“Bring chains and know how to use them. If you are delayed bring an emergency kit that includes warm clothes, snacks and water. Make sure your vehicle is ready with good tires and working wiper blades,” the Oregon Department of Transportation said.
Source: https://www.cnn.com/2023/02/28/weather/winter-storm-us-tuesday/index.html
Oklahoma tornadoes triggered by wind and hail: Snowfall in the Southern Plains had more than double the amount of snow in Connecticut, Massachusetts and Rhode Island
In Oklahoma, the storm ripped roofs off homes, flipped cars, downed trees, littered neighborhoods with debris. So far, as many as twelve people have been reported injured in Oklahoma from the storms.
There were 140 storm reports made Sunday across the Southern Plains, most of which were due to wind. There are at least 14 hail reports in those states, with several of them reportedly 1.75 inches in diameter.
Should the system be classified as a derecho, a long-lived windstorm that typically causes damage in one direction across a relatively straight path, weather experts will have to determine whether or not it is.
The Boston area received roughly a third of the amount of snow that had fallen in Connecticut, Massachusetts and Rhode Island by Tuesday morning.
