Winter storms and rain hit the US; new system expected for Thanksgiving

A major storm dumped more snow and record rainfall on California, triggering small mudslides and flooding some streets, while on the opposite side of the country, blizzard or winter storm warnings were issued Saturday for areas spanning from the Northeast to the central Appalachians.

Another storm system is expected to arrive by Thanksgiving week and last through Tuesday in the Pacific Northwest, dumping rain and snow on higher elevations, according to Torry Dooley, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service.

The Midwest and Great Lakes regions will also see rain and snow on Monday, while the East Coast will be hit hardest by weather on Thanksgiving and Black Friday.

A low pressure system will bring rain to the Southeast early Thursday before heading northeast, where areas from Boston to New York could see rain and strong winds. Parts of northern New Hampshire, northern Maine and the Adirondacks could receive snow. If the system moves further inland, the forecast would call for less snow for the mountains and more rain.

‘Bomb cyclone’ hits west coast

The West Coast storm reached the Pacific Northwest earlier this week, killing two people and knocking out power to hundreds of thousands, mostly in the Seattle area, before its strong winds moved across Northern California. .

The system reached the West Coast on Tuesday as a “bomb cyclone,” which occurs when a cyclone intensifies rapidly. It unleashed fierce winds that knocked trees onto roads, vehicles and homes.

Meanwhile, on the East Coast, another storm brought rain and snow to New York and New Jersey, where wildfires have raged in recent weeks. Parts of West Virginia were under a blizzard warning until Saturday morning, with up to 24 inches of snow and high winds making travel dangerous.

Forecasters predicted the system will weaken on both coasts as the system in the northeast moves toward eastern Canada and the one in the west heads south.

By Friday night, some relief was already being seen in California, where Humboldt County police downgraded evacuation orders to warnings for people near the Eel River after the weather service said the waterway would see moderate flooding. but not older.

In the drought-stricken Northeast, more than 2 inches of rain was expected Saturday morning north of New York City, with snow mixed at higher elevations. The precipitation is expected to help alleviate drought conditions in a state that has seen an exceptionally dry fall.

Heavy snow fell in northeastern Pennsylvania, including the Pocono Mountains, causing a series of school closures. Higher elevations reported up to 17 inches, with minor accumulations in valley cities such as Scranton and Wilkes-Barre.

Parts of West Virginia also experienced their first significant snowfall of the season, with up to 10 inches accumulating in the highest elevations of the Allegheny Mountains. Some areas were under a blizzard warning as gusty winds made travel conditions hazardous.

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