Snow, sleet, and freezing rain are expected to continue affecting the central Appalachians and mid-Atlantic states on Wednesday. Meanwhile, California braces for a storm that could potentially flood areas previously devastated by recent wildfires.
The National Weather Service forecasts significant snowfall, with predictions of up to 14 inches (25 centimeters) in parts of Virginia and West Virginia. In Stanleytown, Virginia, ice accumulations could exceed a third of an inch (8.4 millimeters), while Glendale Springs, North Carolina, may see a quarter of an inch (6.3 millimeters).
An atmospheric river is anticipated to reach California late Wednesday, bringing moisture from the tropics to northern areas. This could result in urban flooding across central and Southern California, as reported by the weather service. The atmospheric river is expected to peak by Thursday, posing risks of heavy snowfall in the Sierra Nevada.
The snowstorm that impacted the mid-Atlantic states on Tuesday led to multiple accidents on icy roads and school closures. By Tuesday night, approximately 12,000 people in Virginia experienced power outages, according to PowerOutage.us. The Virginia Department of Transportation advised residents to stay home, emphasizing safety on social media.
In regions of Baltimore and Washington, snowfall rates reached an inch (2.5 centimeters) per hour. Consequently, all Washington public schools remained closed on Wednesday due to the severe weather conditions.
Appalachian Power, serving a million customers across West Virginia, Virginia, and Tennessee, deployed 5,400 workers to restore power. Additionally, about 65 Virginia National Guard soldiers were positioned strategically along Interstate 95 and state Route 29 to support storm response efforts.
Winter storm warnings spanned from northwest North Carolina to southern New Jersey. The weather was expected to transition to rain by Wednesday afternoon as temperatures rise.
A separate storm system was predicted to bring heavy snow from Kansas to the Great Lakes starting Tuesday night. The Kansas Legislature canceled Wednesday meetings, and Governor Laura Kelly closed state offices in Topeka in response to the weather conditions.
In Virginia, Governor Glenn Youngkin declared a state of emergency, leading to the closure of schools and government offices. State police reported 700 accidents and several injuries, although not all were confirmed to be weather-related.
In southern West Virginia, numerous crashes temporarily closed major highways. Smith’s Towing and Truck Repair addressed multiple incidents involving tractor-trailer drivers stuck on Interstate 64 near the Virginia border due to icy conditions.
Paige Williams, owner of Downtown Books in Lexington, Virginia, opted to close her store on Tuesday, with hopes of reopening on Wednesday, contingent on road conditions improving with potential rain.
An Arctic air mass extended from Portland, Oregon, to the Great Lakes, with temperatures dropping to minus 31 degrees (minus 35 Celsius) in Butte, Montana. Brayton Erickson, executive director of the Butte Rescue Mission, highlighted community efforts to provide cold-weather gear to homeless individuals.
In Multnomah County, Oregon, officials extended a state of emergency through Thursday, with emergency shelters opening to accommodate those in need. Midweek wind chill readings in Portland could reach 10 degrees (minus 12 Celsius).
The arrival of the atmospheric river in California prompted the deployment of over 700,000 sandbags across central and Southern California, as reported by the California Department of Water Resources.
Journalists from the Associated Press across the U.S. contributed to this report.
