California will continue to get slammed by yet another winter storm on Friday, while parts of the Midwest can expect significant amounts of snow.
- Much of California is under either a winter storm warning or a flood watch, with the weather expected to continue causing problems most of the weekend.
- Several inches of rain are expected at lower elevations in California, leading to flooding risks in areas already hit hard by snow, like Lake Tahoe. Snow will impact higher elevations.
- In the Midwest, a snowstorm will impact cities from Milwaukee to Detroit, bringing as much of 6 inches of the white stuff.
Here’s what you need to know about Friday’s weather:
California
The National Weather Service issued a winter storm warning that began Thursday afternoon in northern California and will continue through Sunday morning.
Snow levels are expected to drop to as low as 4,000 feet on Friday night and into Saturday in the Eastern Sierra, and there will be periods of heavy rain, according to the National Weather Service.
Forecasters say the combination of rain and significant snowmelt could cause life-threatening flooding, mudslides and avalanches.
“It really ups the ante,” said Bob Larson, senior meteorologist at AccuWeather.
Of particular concern, he said, are places between 2,000 and 5,000 feet, including Lake Tahoe.
- San Francisco could see between 2 and 4 inches of rain.
- Santa Barbara on the central coast could get 1 to 2 inches.
- Los Angeles could get up to an inch.
- Urban flooding is possible in areas from Redding down to Santa Barbara.
The storm will mostly let up by Sunday but another system is set to hit the state on Monday, Larson said.
“It’s kind of a one-two punch,” he said. “Here we go again.”
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Winter storm map
The Midwest and Northeast
A Midwest storm could bring between 6 and 10 inches of snow to Milwaukee, a few inches to Chicago and 4-8 inches in Detroit.
The brunt of the storm should hit the Midwest Friday before moving east across Pennsylvania and New York.
- Some parts of Pennsylvania and New York could see 3-6 inches of snow.
- New York City may only get about an inch of snow.
- In places like Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, the storm should mostly bring rain, Larson said.
The storm will also impact parts of the Northeast, with some rain and snow likely late Friday and a stronger chance of snow on Saturday in parts of Connecticut and Maine.
US weather watches and warnings
The South
Rain and thunderstorms are possible across Arkansas, Tennessee, southern Kentucky and into the Carolinas starting Friday.
The storms carry the potential of hail and damaging winds, and temperatures should plummet, with below freezing temperatures expected across much of northern Arkansas.
Meanwhile Florida remains unusually rain-free and unseasonably warm. Drought conditions and fire danger has increased as a result.