WINDSOR, Calif. — As the Thanksgiving holiday approaches, forecasts indicate that a new wave of wintry weather may disrupt travel plans across the United States. Meanwhile, California and Washington state are still recovering from the impacts of recent storms that caused significant damage and widespread power outages.
In California, where authorities reported the discovery of two individuals deceased in floodwaters on Saturday, preparations are underway for additional rainfall while teams work to manage flooding and the aftermath of minor landslides linked to a previous storm.
The National Weather Service in Sacramento has issued a winter storm warning for the Sierra Nevada mountains, which is in effect until Tuesday. Heavy snowfall is anticipated at higher altitudes, with gusty winds potentially reaching up to 55 mph (88 kph). Forecasts predict a total accumulation of about 4 feet (1.2 meters), especially concentrated on Monday and Tuesday.
Regions in the Midwest and Great Lakes are projected to experience a mix of rain and snow on Monday, while the East Coast is expected to feel the brunt of the weather conditions during Thanksgiving and Black Friday.
A low pressure system will likely bring rain to the Southeast early on Thursday before moving toward the Northeast. Areas stretching from Boston to New York could experience rain coupled with breezy conditions, with chances of snowfall in areas of northern New Hampshire, northern Maine, and the Adirondack mountains. Forecasters have stated that should the system shift further inland, there could be a transition from snow to rain in the mountainous regions.
According to Hayden Frank, a meteorologist from the Massachusetts weather service, the system currently appears to lack significant strength. “This will mainly deliver rain to the I-95 corridor, so those traveling should prepare for wet weather,” he stated. “Unless the conditions turn much colder, precipitation will primarily be rain.”
Frank also remarked on the absence of major storm systems anticipated over the coming weekend, suggesting that travelers heading home on Sunday should encounter manageable driving conditions, albeit with colder temperatures setting in for the East while the West sees warming trends.
The recent “bomb cyclone” that struck the West Coast last Tuesday resulted in the death of two individuals in the Pacific Northwest. This rapidly intensifying storm brought severe winds that uprooted trees, downed power lines, and caused damage to homes and vehicles. Many residents in Washington state experienced power outages, with fewer than 25,000 still affected in the Seattle area as of Sunday evening.
Reports indicate that authorities discovered two bodies in flood-prone areas of Sonoma County, located north of San Francisco. One body was found in a swollen creek by a hiker, while another was discovered inside a vehicle caught in rising floodwaters, according to Deputy Rob Dillion. Investigators are currently examining whether the fatalities are related to the storm.
Santa Rosa experienced its rainiest three-day stretch on record, accumulating approximately 12.5 inches (32 centimeters) by Friday evening, as reported by the National Weather Service in the San Francisco Bay Area. Nearby vineyards in Windsor also faced flooding challenges.
Forecasters warn of continuing risks for flooding and mudslides with additional rain expected to arrive starting Sunday. However, they predict this storm will not be as severe as last week’s atmospheric river phenomenon—a long burst of moisture flowing from the ocean onto land.
Rich Otto, a forecaster with the weather service, explained that while the looming storm may present less intense threats, there are still smaller risks to consider across the West Coast for several days. He added that as the rain advances eastward during the week, higher elevations of the Sierra Nevada, as well as parts of Utah and Colorado, could see considerable snowfall.
Mammoth Mountain in California, which recently received 2 feet (.6 meters) of snow from the earlier storm, is expecting to gain an additional 4 feet (1.2 meters) before the current system subsides on Wednesday, as indicated by the resort’s announcements.
Heading into Thanksgiving, regions in the Midwest and East Coast are poised to receive substantial rainfall, with a possibility of snow affecting Northeastern states.
Last week’s storm provided much-needed precipitation to locations in New York and New Jersey, where wildfires had recently posed a threat, along with delivering significant snow to parts of northeastern Pennsylvania. While this moisture is not expected to fully eradicate drought conditions, it may help reduce them, according to Bryan Greenblatt, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Binghamton, New York.
Northeastern Pennsylvania, including the Pocono Mountains, saw heavy snow accumulation, with reports of up to 17 inches (43 centimeters) in high areas, and lesser amounts in cities like Scranton and Wilkes-Barre. At present, around 35,000 customers across 10 counties remain without power, a decrease from 80,000 just a day prior.
Additionally, in New York’s Catskills region, nearly 10,000 residents were still without power two days after a storm deposited heavy snow in parts of that area.
The recent precipitation in West Virginia has made significant strides against what is being described as the state’s worst drought in two decades, enabling local ski resorts to prepare for opening in the upcoming weeks.
