As of Tuesday afternoon, California and Nevada are under flash flood watches and coastal flood warnings while much of the east coast is dealing with a winter weather advisor and blizzard warnings, according to the National Oceanic Atmospheric Association.
Flood watches in much of central and northern California will remain in effect until at least Wednesday morning with widespread emergency evacuations possible. The flood warnings are not only because of high rain totals—the state is looking at three to eight inches of rain—but also because of previous storms that have already saturated the soil.
The increase in rainfall coupled with the intensity of the storm could lead to roads and homes flooding. In addition, high winds up to 60 mph are possible along with a risk of avalanches.
Heavy wet snow is expected in the northeast, with high winds predicted to shut down parts of the region during the storm. Higher snowfall counts (up to 30 inches) are focused more in the mountain regions of the Catskills while the Berkshires, Litchfield Hills, and other high-elevation areas in Vermont, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire are forecasting 12 to 24 inches of snow.
Weather conditions have already impacted businesses and schools in the region. Many areas started off with rain before switching to snow but the coast is going to be seeing rain and high-wind gusts up to 65 mph. Coastal flooding is anticipated.
The storms in California and the northeast could last through Wednesday. Other storms—rain for both—are on the horizon for the weekend too.
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