US Reels from Rain and snow as Thanksgiving Week Approaches

Snow and rain swept across the U.S. on Saturday, threatening to disrupt holiday travel ahead of Thanksgiving.

While California grappled with flooding and small landslides from a previous storm, thousands in the Pacific Northwest remained without power for days.

National Weather Service’s Sacramento office issued a winter storm warning for California’s Sierra Nevada on Saturday.

Heavy snow is expected at higher elevations, with gusts of 55 mph (88 kph). Heavy snowfall was forecast Monday and Tuesday, with a total of roughly 4 feet (1.2 meters).

Rain and snow are expected Monday in the Midwest and Great Lakes, and the East Coast is expected to be hit hardest.

From Boston to New York, rain and strong winds are possible with a low-pressure system moving through the southeast early Thursday.

Snow is expected in northern New Hampshire, northern Maine, and the Adirondacks. Forecasts would predict more rain and less snow for the mountains if the system tracks further inland.

Before moving through Northern California, the storm on the West Coast killed two people and knocked out power to hundreds of thousands in the Pacific Northwest.

“Bomb cyclones” occur when cyclones intensify rapidly, bringing a storm ashore on Tuesday. Toppled trees, vehicles, and homes with fierce winds.

National Weather Service in the Bay Area reports that Santa Rosa saw its wettest three-day period on record, with about 32 centimeters of rainfall by Friday evening. Windsor, about 10 miles (16 kilometers) north, experienced flooding on Saturday.

An 18-year-old volunteer firefighter and his friend helped swamped vehicle owners on Friday.

His 2006 Dodge Ram pickup truck and ropes enabled them to rescue a sedan driver stranded in water, a truck stuck in mud, and a farmer stranded on a dirt road.

Read Also: Cool Girls Wear This Knitwear Style for Winter Across the Board

About 85,000 Seattle residents still had no electricity as of Saturday morning after this season’s strongest atmospheric river.

Cities opened warming centers to provide warm food and plug-in devices to people entering their fourth day without power.

Howling winds have toppled trees onto power lines and rattled Katie Skipper’s roof in North Bend, 30 miles east of Seattle.

While the house was not damaged, she began to feel the effects of no electricity and cold showers.

“I’m keeping the fire going.”. Keeping the generator running is my job.”. Always in the dark is exhausting.”

Read Also: Winter Snowfall in USA Today Snowiest Cities and Towns

Rare wildfires have raged in recent weeks in New York, New Jersey, and northeastern Pennsylvania due to another storm.

Snowfall of up to two feet (61 centimeters) and high winds made travel treacherous in parts of West Virginia on Saturday morning.

Rainfall after an exceptionally dry fall was expected to ease drought conditions. Bryan Greenblatt, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Binghamton, New York, said, “This won’t cure the drought, but it’s going to help when it melts.”

Northeastern Pennsylvania and the Pocono Mountains received heavy snow. Up to 17 inches of snow was reported in higher elevations, while Scranton and Wilkes-Barre received lesser amounts.

Approximately 80,000 customers lost power in 10 counties, and some highways were restricted due to the storm.

As well as West Virginia, the Allegheny Mountains received their first significant snowfall of the season on Friday and Saturday. Blizzard warnings were in some areas.

Precipitation helped end the state’s worst drought in 20 years. Additionally, West Virginia ski resorts will have a boost in opening soon.

SF reporter Rodriguez is on the ground. Seattle’s Hallie Golden, San Francisco’s Janie Har, Issaquah’s Manuel Valdes, Washington’s Sarah Brumfield, West Virginia’s John Raby, Baltimore’s Lea Skene, Los Angeles’ Stefanie Dazio, and Portland, Oregon’s Claire Rush contributed.

Read Also: Scotland is Under a Travel Warning as Storm Bert hits with Snow and Rain