A multiple storm system will move across the West Coast this weekend and early into the work week, hitting California with both rain and snow.
Storms to the west are expected to bring flooding and damaging winds to the region, as well as feet of snow in the mountains.
The first of the storms hit California on Saturday, bringing steady rain to the central and northern parts of the state starting Saturday morning.
Widespread showers and mountain snow will develop Saturday night, and the storm will move into the Rockies and Intermountain West by Sunday morning.
Meanwhile, a more powerful storm system is approaching the Golden State and is expected to remain offshore for most of the day Sunday before moving inland rain in the evening.
Rainfall rates will be 0.5 to 1 inch per hour Sunday through Monday. As Monday continues, Californians can expect sleet, snow, and damaging wind gusts to persist through most of the day before moving east toward the Rockies into Tuesday.
Also on Monday, parts of the Sierra Nevada and Northern California ranges could see 2 to 6 feet of snow.
Rainfall totals will generally range from 2 to 4 inches at lower elevations, but will range from 4 to 8 inches in the foothills and mountains, leading to localized flooding.
Currently, 26 million people are at risk of flooding across the state, including Los Angeles, Fresno, Sacramento and San Francisco.
Similarly, damaging wind gusts are possible as wind gusts across the state will range from 30 to 50 mph, with gusts in excess of 60 mph expected in some parts of the mountains. Sixteen million people in central and northern California are under wind warnings, including San Francisco.
The northeast also experienced snow on Saturday
On the other side of the country, snow fell in the northeast on Saturday morning.
By 11 a.m., parts of New Jersey and Pennsylvania already had more than a foot of snow. Just 2 inches of snow blanketed New York City’s Central Park.
In the mid-Atlantic, surges continued into the afternoon, but little or no additional accumulation was expected to add to the initial discharge. Conditions were mostly clear in the afternoon.
As the weekend progresses, lake-effect snow will affect western New York, Pennsylvania and northeastern Ohio, where totals are expected to range from 2 to 6 inches.
In some places it can be 10-12 inches. Winter warnings remain in effect for Buffalo, Erie and Cleveland.