More than 22 million people on the West Coast were under flood warnings Thursday and this weekend as authorities braced for severe weather as they braced for a series of Pacific storms.
Around 32 million people are also under strong wind warnings, and the “atmospheric river” effect caused by flows of dense moisture in the air could cause widespread power outages.
These two storms, occurring Thursday and Sunday into Monday, could be described as the “Pineapple Express'' in the subtropical waters around Hawaii.
Snow has hit the highlands, and more than 1 million people farther inland in the Rocky Mountains are under winter weather warnings, with several feet of snow expected in some places. National Weather Service meteorologist Robert Hart said in a briefing Wednesday that areas above 7,000 feet could see 12 to 18 inches of snow.
As heavy snow fell in Soda Springs, California's Nevada County early Thursday morning, drone footage showed traffic backed up, cars losing control and snow plows being forced out on Interstate 80.
Up to 2 feet of snow could fall in the Sierra Nevada into Friday.
The severe weather has already produced winds of 110 mph in California. Early Thursday morning, Sonoma County firefighters rescued a driver from a car that had crashed into a flooded road and took on water. Sonoma County Fire District added in a post to
Wind gusts of up to 45 mph could occur across California, causing power outages.
Firefighters rescued a girl trapped inside a house after a tree fell on her in Saratoga, California, on Wednesday morning. She was treated at a hospital for non-life-threatening injuries.
Southern California is expected to bear the brunt of Thursday's deluge. 1 and 3 inches of rain are expected. The Bureau of Meteorology said in a briefing Wednesday night that localized thunderstorms could bring more rain. The region is still recovering from record rainfall and flooding in recent weeks.
Heavy rain is possible in California's Orange County and San Bernardino starting at 9 a.m. PT (12 p.m. ET), with heavy snow in parts of San Bernardino and the mountains of Riverside County, the agency said. It is expected that this will happen.
California may get a brief break in the weather on Saturday, but a more powerful storm could return Sunday into Monday, bringing heavy rain, wind and snow once again.
The California Department of Water Resources said it has prepared about 5 million sandbags and more than 62,000 flood-proof “super sacks” to plug levee failures.
The city of San Diego has issued a voluntary evacuation warning for people in flood-prone areas including South Crest, Mountain View, Encanto, San Ysidro, Sorrento Valley and Mission Valley. The city has opened an evacuation center for disaster victims at the city gymnasium in Balboa Park and is arranging transportation.
“Residents in these areas should consider gathering important documents and belongings and making plans to keep themselves and their families out of harm's way in the event of major flooding,” Mayor Todd Gloria said in a statement. It should be kept up,” he said.
“Protect your property, clean your drains, and be prepared with a plan and a ‘go’ kit. Please take these steps to stay prepared and informed,” San Diego County Emergency Services Director Jeff Toney said at a press conference Wednesday.The county is Recruitment Residents provide free sandbags and form their own flood defenses.
The San Bernardino County Sheriff's Office warned of an increase in traffic accidents during inclement weather. On Wednesday night, there was a post on X that said, “Please slow down and give yourself extra time to get to your destination alive.”
San Diego Humane Society A call to pet owners This is to make sure the animals have up-to-date ID tags and microchips in case they get lost during the storm.
The second of two California storms expected to develop between Sunday and Tuesday is expected to be a strong storm, bringing high winds and new threats of power outages.
The threat of new flooding will be highest in the Bay Area on Sunday and in Los Angeles on Monday.
These West Coast systems are heading east and could reach much of central and northern Texas by Friday.
While much of the West is suffering from this severe weather, some areas are enjoying warmer-than-usual temperatures here in the middle of winter.
The mercury in Boise, Idaho, reached 68 degrees on Wednesday, making it the warmest January day on record in the state.
Temperatures in Green Bay, Wisconsin, and Topeka, Kansas are expected to reach the low 40s to mid 60s on Thursday, well above normal for this time of year.
