Weather experts across the United States have warned that another wintry condition could affect Thanksgiving week, while California and Washington are still managing the aftermath of storm-related damage and power outages.
In California, after two storm victims were found in floodwaters on Saturday, officials braced for additional rain while dealing with existing flooding and minor earth movement from the previous weather system.
Based in Sacramento National Weather Service It has been announced Winter Storm Warning Continues through Tuesday for the Sierra Nevada. Significant snowfall is expected in higher elevations, with winds possibly reaching 55 mph (88 kph). About 4 feet (1.2 m) of snow is expected, with the most significant accumulations forecast for Monday and Tuesday.
Rain and snow will affect the Midwest and Great Lakes regions on Monday, while the East Coast will feel the most significant impact during Thanksgiving and Black Friday.
A weather system is expected to bring rain to the southeast early Thursday morning before moving northeast. The Boston and New York areas may experience rain and gusty winds, with snow possible in northern New Hampshire, northern Maine and the Adirondacks. If the system moves further inland, mountainous regions may see more rain than snow.
“The system doesn’t look like a powerhouse right now,” Hayden Frank, a meteorologist with the weather service in Massachusetts, said Sunday. “Basically, this will bring rain to the I-95 corridor so travelers should prepare for wet weather. It looks like rain until the system cools down.”
Frank indicated that no significant storms were forecast across the country for the weekend, suggesting favorable driving conditions for Sunday commuters. Eastern temperatures will drop while western areas will warm.
Two deaths were reported in the Pacific Northwest following a rapidly intensifying “bomb cyclone” that hit the West Coast last Tuesday. The storm brought high winds that damaged property and vehicles and caused widespread power outages in Washington state before moving toward northern California. About 25,000 Seattle residents were without power Sunday evening.
Two bodies were found Saturday in the wine region of Sonoma County, north of San Francisco. According to Deputy Rob Dillion, a walker found the body of a man in a swollen stream near Santa Rosa, while rescue teams later recovered another body from a vehicle in floodwaters near Guerneville. Investigators are assessing whether the incidents were storm-related.
According to the San Francisco Bay Area National Weather Service, Santa Rosa experienced one of its wettest three-day periods by Friday evening, with about 12.5 inches (32 centimeters) of rain falling by Friday evening. Flooding in nearby Windsor has affected vineyards.
The risk of flooding and mudslides continues with more rain expected through Sunday, although the system will be less severe than previous atmospheric river events.
“However, there are still threats, minor threats, and not as significant in terms of intensity, that still exist across the West Coast for the next two or three days,” Weather Service forecaster Rich Otto said.
As the rain moves east, significant snowfall is possible in the Sierra Nevada elevations and parts of Utah and Colorado. California’s Mammoth Mountain, which recently received 2 feet (.6 m) of fresh snow, could receive an additional 4 feet (1.2 m) before the system clears by Wednesday.
The Midwest and East Coast expect heavy rain during Thanksgiving, with snow possible in northeastern states.
Recent rains in New York and New Jersey helped alleviate wildfire concerns and drought conditions in Pennsylvania. The rain provided a welcome relief after an unusually dry autumn.
“It’s not drought-fighting, but it will certainly help,” said Brian Greenblatt, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Binghamton, New York.
Heavy snow fell in northeastern Pennsylvania, including the Pocono Mountains. Valley cities reported highs of up to 17 inches (43 centimeters), with lesser accumulations. About 35,000 customers in 10 counties remained without power.
In New York’s Catskills region, about 10,000 residents were without power Sunday morning, following heavy snowfall two days earlier.
Rain in West Virginia helped stave off the state’s worst drought in two decades and benefited ski resorts preparing for their upcoming season.
