The Pacific Northwest, already battered by severe weather, will face another round of rain, snow, and strong winds on Friday. Forecasters predict that this will be the final round of the atmospheric river hitting the region.
The second anticipated mega storm didn’t reach the intensity required to be classified as a “bomb cyclone,” which refers to a powerful winter storm.
The first bomb cyclone occurred earlier in the week and was responsible for two fatalities in Washington. Images depicting the aftermath revealed vehicles and houses destroyed by fallen trees.
The eastern part of the country experienced its first true winter weather as a storm rolled in. This storm brought heavy rain and up to a foot of snow in higher elevations across Pennsylvania, Maryland, New York, Virginia, Kentucky, and neighboring states.
Even residents in the Washington, D.C. metro area were surprised to wake up to a light snowfall on Friday morning.
The National Weather Service issued a warning on Friday, stating that the Pacific Northwest and Northern California regions still faced potential dangers.
The forecast indicated a high risk of life-threatening flooding in Northern California, with reports of flooded roads emerging from the Bay Area as early as Thursday evening.
Across the country, some parts of the US are experiencing their first snowfall of the winter season.
Friday is expected to bring between 3 to 5 additional inches of rain, with coastal areas being particularly affected, according to the weather service. In the northern Sierra Nevada mountains, rainfall during the day could potentially reach up to 10 inches.
The weather service has issued a warning stating that there is a high probability of dangerous flooding, rock slides, and debris flows today.
Northern California is currently under multiple flood warnings, watches, and advisories. The region is also expected to experience heavy snowfall in the Washington Cascades and Northern Rockies until Saturday. Additionally, higher elevations of the northern Sierra range may see several feet of accumulated snow.
Early Friday, the number of homes and businesses without power in Washington and Northern California dropped to just under 200,000. This is a significant improvement from the previous days, as the number was close to 300,000 on Thursday afternoon and a staggering 600,000 on Wednesday.
On Friday, November 22, 2024, a satellite image captured the storm drenching the Pacific Northwest and Northern California.
Evacuations ordered in Northern California
Evacuation orders and warnings have been issued by officials in Humboldt County, California, located in the northwest part of the state. This is due to the flooding caused by the storm and the expected increase in river levels.
The sheriff’s office advised residents to stay prepared for immediate evacuation if the situation deteriorates, according to a statement released on Thursday.
Residents were also advised to avoid unnecessary travel and stay off the roads.
‘Up in the air’
DeeAnn Mayer, a vacation property manager in Sonoma County, has been unable to return home since Wednesday due to the severe weather conditions. Currently, flood warnings are in effect in the area.
“It has been raining consistently for the past four days, which means that this water, unfortunately, is not being absorbed by the ground,” Mayer explained to USA TODAY.
Mayer, who is 63 years old, shared with USA TODAY that she has been staying on her property since Wednesday to avoid any potential emergencies caused by the storms. The small town of Guerneville, California, where Mayer’s Cottages on River Road are located, has experienced road closures due to flooding. The cottages sit directly across from the Russian River in the area.
Friday morning arrived, and Mayer eagerly checked the anticipated time for high tide. She had been longing for the opportunity to depart from her current location and make the 6-mile journey back to her home in Monte Rio, California. The road she would traverse was a winding one, situated alongside the river bank.
Mayer expressed uncertainty about her ability to return, stating, “Am I going to be able to get back? Everything is kind of up in the air right now.”
How much rain and snow has already fallen?
By Thursday evening, some areas of Northern California had already experienced more than 12 inches of rainfall.
The National Weather Service has provided the following rainfall totals as of late Thursday:
- Venado, California received a significant amount of rainfall, measuring 17.4 inches.
- Austin Creek, California received a total of 15.88 inches of rainfall.
- Santa Rosa, California received a total of 11.2 inches of rainfall.
- Mount Shasta, California received a total of 10.62 inches of rainfall.
These are the recorded snowfall totals:
- In Soda Springs, California, the total annual precipitation amounts to 20 inches.
- Siskiyou Summit, Oregon received a total of 7 inches of snow.
- Mazama, Washington received a total of 16.2 inches of precipitation.
Bombarding weather forces school closures in Northern California
Several school districts had to cancel classes once again on Friday due to the ongoing storm. In Sonoma County, 13 out of its 40 school districts were forced to close either partially or entirely.
The reason behind the closures was the challenging commute for students caused by fallen trees, the anticipated flooding, and the overall hazardous weather conditions.
According to a report from KOMO News, several schools in the Seattle area and western Washington had to close earlier this week due to the severe weather conditions and power outages.