LOUISVILLE, Ky. — A significant weather event is impacting much of the Eastern United States, with expectations for a fresh surge of severe and wet conditions on Saturday. The Northeast is bracing for heavy snowstorms, while the Mississippi Valley faces potential tornado threats due to high winds.
Residents in Kentucky, Tennessee, West Virginia, and Arkansas are being urged to stay off the roads as flood warnings are in effect, with parts of western Kentucky anticipating rainfall totals of up to eight inches. In response to the forecasted flash flooding anticipated Saturday into Sunday, Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear declared a state of emergency. “We want to specifically place resources in areas that are prone to flooding,” Beshear noted via social media.
The National Weather Service has highlighted a “major, potentially historic, flash flood event” for many areas, with flash flood warnings issued for several counties in Tennessee situated north of Nashville, which are in effect until Saturday evening.
In addition to the heavy rainfall, the Northeast is expecting significant snowfall, which may change to sleet, complicating travel conditions. Northern New York is set to experience a mix of snow and sleet throughout the weekend, with accumulations ranging from six to thirteen inches. Wind gusts could reach up to 45 mph, increasing the likelihood of power outages and structural damage as icy conditions prevail.
As the weekend progresses, meteorologists are warning of the arrival of a polar vortex, anticipated to be the 10th and coldest such event of the season. Cold Arctic air is forecasted to blanket the upper regions of the U.S., starting in the northern Rockies and Plains, with this chilly air staying in place throughout the following week.
In Denver, where temperatures may plummet to as low as 14 degrees Fahrenheit, authorities are extending cold weather shelters to assist those experiencing homelessness. The Denver Coliseum is set to open its doors on Saturday to provide additional space for those in need of a warm refuge.
Skiers in the Rocky Mountains are already confronting road closures on portions of Interstate 70 due to severe snow conditions, as warnings of hazardous driving conditions remain for the mountainous area over the weekend.
Meanwhile, southern California is slowly recovering from the effects of the year’s strongest storm, but dangers from mud and rock slides on wildfire-damaged terrain persist. Even after the rain subsides, the risk of landslides looms large in areas stripped of vegetation that typically stabilizes the soil.
In Sierra Madre, water, debris, and rocks cascaded down the hillsides on Thursday night, leading to at least one car being trapped in the mud and damaging several garages. Crews were actively engaged in cleanup operations throughout the city.
In the Sierra Nevada Mountains, a recent storm has deposited over six feet of snow in just 36 hours. An avalanche occurred during mitigation efforts on Friday morning at Mammoth Mountain, injuring two ski patrol members. One was rescued and is recovering, while the other was transported to a hospital with serious injuries.