A storm system brought heavy snow and record rainfall to California, triggering minor landslides and street flooding. Simultaneously, blizzard or winter storm warnings were in effect across the Northeast and central Appalachia.
Another weather system is anticipated to reach the Pacific Northwest during Thanksgiving week, persisting into Tuesday, and bringing rain and higher-elevation snowfall, according to National Weather Service meteorologist Torry Dooley.
The Midwest and Great Lakes regions will experience rain and snow on Monday, while the East Coast will face the most significant weather impact on Thanksgiving and Black Friday.
A low-pressure system will introduce rain to the Southeast early Thursday before moving northeastward. Areas from Boston to New York could see rain and strong winds; northern New Hampshire, northern Maine, and the Adirondacks might experience snowfall. The amount of mountain snow will depend on the storm’s inland track; a more inland path would result in less snow and more rain.
Potent ‘bomb cyclone’ hit the West Coast
The West Coast storm earlier this week caused two fatalities and widespread power outages, primarily affecting the Seattle area, before its strong winds reached Northern California. The system intensified rapidly upon landfall as a “bomb cyclone,” causing widespread damage, including trees falling onto roads, vehicles, and homes.
Santa Rosa, California, recorded its wettest three-day period on record, receiving approximately 12.5 inches (32 centimeters) of rain by Friday evening, according to the Bay Area National Weather Service.
Flooding closed a section of Highway 1 (Pacific Coast Highway) in Mendocino County, with no reopening estimate available from the California Department of Transportation.
Meanwhile, on the East Coast, another storm delivered much-needed rain to drought-stricken New York and New Jersey and heavy snow to northeastern Pennsylvania. Parts of West Virginia were under a blizzard warning until Saturday morning, with up to 2 feet (61 centimeters) of snow and strong winds creating hazardous travel conditions.
Tens of thousands lose power in Seattle area
As Seattle-area residents began their weekend, over 87,000 remained without power due to the season’s most powerful atmospheric river—a long plume of moisture forming over an ocean and flowing over land. Crews worked to clear downed power lines, branches, and debris, while cities opened warming centers offering food and charging stations for those in their fourth day without power.
Gale warnings were issued for waters off Washington, Oregon, and California, and high wind warnings were in effect across parts of Northern California and Oregon. Winter storm warnings were issued for portions of the California Cascades and the Sierra Nevada.
Forecasters anticipate a break from storms on both coasts as the northeastern system moves into eastern Canada and the western system heads south.
By Friday night, some relief was evident in California, where the Humboldt County sheriff’s office downgraded evacuation orders to warnings for those near the Eel River after forecasters predicted moderate, but not major, flooding.
Northeast receives vital precipitation
In the drought-affected Northeast, over 2 inches (5 centimeters) of rain was expected north of New York City by Saturday morning, with snow at higher elevations.
This precipitation was anticipated to alleviate drought conditions in a region experiencing an exceptionally dry fall.
“It won’t eliminate the drought, but it will definitely help once it all melts,” said Bryan Greenblatt, a National Weather Service meteorologist in Binghamton, New York.
Heavy snow fell in northeastern Pennsylvania, including the Pocono Mountains, leading to numerous school closures. Higher elevations reported up to 17 inches (43 centimeters) of snow, with lesser amounts in valley cities such as Scranton and Wilkes-Barre. Less than 80,000 customers across 10 counties lost power, and the state transportation department imposed speed restrictions on some highways.
Parts of West Virginia also experienced their first significant snowfall of the season Friday and overnight Saturday, with up to 10 inches (25.4 centimeters) accumulating in the higher elevations of the Allegheny Mountains. Some areas were under a blizzard warning due to gusty winds making travel perilous.
The precipitation helped ease the state’s worst drought in at least two decades and boosted West Virginia ski resorts preparing for their upcoming season.