Winter Storms Wreak Havoc Thousands Left in the Dark as California Braces for Flooding Let me know if you have any other questions or requests!

Winter Storms Wreak Havoc Thousands Left in the Dark as California Braces for Flooding

A powerful winter storm swept across the eastern United States, leaving hundreds of thousands without power and causing widespread disruptions. Meanwhile, California is bracing itself for a potentially devastating flood event.

The storm system brought heavy snow and freezing rain to a vast swath of the East Coast, from Kentucky to Maryland and points north. The National Weather Service reported that Iron Gate, Virginia, received over 14 inches of snow, while White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia, saw nearly 12 inches.

As temperatures began to rise on Wednesday, the region's airports received several inches of snow, according to Scott Kleebauer, a meteorologist with the Weather Prediction Center. After a pretty quiet few seasons here, things have kind of picked back up again, he said.

The storm's impact was felt far and wide. Nearly 190,000 customers in Virginia and over 16,000 in North Carolina lost electricity, according to PowerOutage.us. Appalachian Power, which serves a million customers across three states, had 5,400 workers working to restore power.

The region's airports were also affected, with multiple inches of snow causing hundreds of flights to be canceled or delayed. Ronald Reagan National Airport near Washington, D.C., was one of the hardest-hit, with over 250 flights impacted.

Schools and universities across the region were forced to cancel classes for a second day in a row, while some families took advantage of the snow day to enjoy outdoor activities, such as sledding outside the US Capitol.

Flood Threat

As temperatures continued to rise, concerns grew about rain and melting snow washing into rivers and streams. A flood threat was issued through Thursday morning, stretching from eastern Tennessee to southwestern Virginia and other parts of the South.

Our main concern once we get into Thursday will be potential flooding impacts as we see rivers and streams swell with the combined impact of melting snowpack and rain at the same time, said Vance Joyner, a weather service meteorologist in Blacksburg, Virginia.

Accidents

The storm also caused hundreds of accidents across the region. In Kentucky, a head-on collision on snowy roads claimed the life of one driver. In Virginia, where Governor Glenn Youngkin declared a state of emergency, over 850 crashes were reported, with dozens involving injuries.

West Coast Concerns

Meanwhile, points farther west were not spared the wintry mess. A separate storm system was expected to dump heavy snow from Oklahoma to the Great Lakes on Wednesday, prompting government offices to close and universities to cancel classes in parts of those states.

In Missouri, a GoJet Airlines flight slid off an icy taxiway at St. Louis Lambert International Airport, but fortunately, no injuries were reported among the 27 people on board.

California Preparations

On the West Coast, authorities in California issued a voluntary evacuation warning for areas affected by recent wildfires, citing concerns about potential debris flows during an upcoming storm. The warning takes effect Thursday and affects Trabuco Canyon and other areas near the burn scar of last year's Airport Fire.

County officials urged residents to be prepared should a mandatory evacuation order become necessary. California is also preparing for an atmospheric river that could flood areas recently ravaged by wildfires, with light rain already falling on Wednesday.

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