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A ground stop halted traffic at New York’s LaGuardia Airport early Tuesday as a nor’easter threatened to dump more than foot of snow in the East, part of a “double whammy” of storms that also saw soggy California facing more flooding from the latest deluge.
“Double-Whammy! Storm-weary Californians are facing another strong Atmospheric River Event and the Northeast is bracing for a powerful Nor’easter,” the National Weather Service tweeted.
Some areas of Connecticut and Massachusetts already had almost a foot of snow early Tuesday. A recurring theme in weather service storm warnings across much of New York and New England: “Significant snowfall and periods of heavy snowfall rates
will combine to create low visibility and very dangerous driving conditions.”
Strong winds and the weight of snow on tree limbs could down power lines and cause power outages, forecasters said. More than 130,000 homes and businesses across New York, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Vermont were in the dark early Tuesday.
Storm developments:
►More than 26 million Americans were under winter storm warnings, watches or advisories. More than 40 million face high wind advisories or watches.
►Connecticut’s Bradley International Airport was briefly closed Tuesday because of storm conditions.
►Snow was falling at rates of up to 3 inches per hour in some areas. “We are advising those who live in these areas not to travel at this time,” the New York State Police tweeted.
►The Southeast will also see some winter weather conditions: Freeze warnings have been issued to tens of millions of people across the region.
Nor’easter brings heavy snow; New York declares state of emergency
A winter storm warning remains in affect through Wednesday in much of the Northeast from a nor’easter. Heavy, wet snow is expected in most regions with residents seeing up to 2 feet of snow. AccuWeather said the heaviest snowfall will likely fall from New York to Maine.
Areas in the storm’s path could have wind gusts up to 50 mph. Coastal cities in the Northeast, from New Jersey to Maine, will be monitoring possible flooding with rising tides. New York Gov. Kathy Hochul declared a state of emergency that went into effect Monday night, advising people to stay home and avoid unnecessary travel because of hazardous road conditions.
“This could be deadly,” Hochul warned at a storm briefing in Albany. “Let me repeat: This will be a dangerous storm. Please stay off the roads for your own safety.”
What is a nor’easter?
Nor’easters are large, intense areas of low pressure that typically develop off the East Coast during the late fall, winter and early spring.
The storms are called “nor’easters” because they usually bring strong northeast winds over the East as they move north along the Atlantic Coast.
A NOR’EASTER EXPLAINED: Storms can batter East Coast with snow, impact millions of people
Power outage risks in Northeast
Hochul said the storm “will likely” cause power outages in New York, and the National Guard was activated in the state to assist emergency response crews.
AccuWeather said a large portion of the Northeast is at risk of power outages.
‘Life-threatening flooding’ likely in California
Heavy rain began to fall again in California on Monday night, and it’s expected to continue into Tuesday night. Northern California will see moderate to heavy rain, with Sierra and Foothills getting 3-7 inches, the National Weather Service said. The area could have flooded roadways and an increased risk of mudslides. Flood warnings were issued for local rivers.
“As the #AtmosphericRiver continues to arrive, rainfall rates and winds will continue to increase through the morning for the Bay Area and Central Coast of California,’ the weather service office in San Francisco warned in a tweet.
In Southern California, heavy rain continuing into Tuesday evening will likely be worse than the atmospheric river storm that hit last week. The impact could be devastating; Los Angeles and coastal cities will have 2-4 inches of rain.
“With the ground already saturated from the previous storm and river levels well above average, another round of major and life-threatening flooding is likely along much of the California coast, central Valley and foothills of the Sierra,” the weather service said.
‘RIVERS IN THE SKY’:What exactly is an atmospheric river?
A California rainfall season not seen in years
The National Weather Service said the pending rain will continue to add what has already been a wet beginning of the year for California. Some parts of the state have had their wettest water year since at least 2016-17 but “more likely” 2004-05 or 2010-11.
Freeze warnings in the South
The South and Southeast will have freeze warnings in effect through Tuesday morning, and they could be back in place Wednesday morning. The freezing conditions will kill crops and other outdoor vegetation and could damage outdoor plumbing.
“Those in spots where subfreezing temperatures are forecast will want to bring pets, as well as any sensitive outdoor plants, indoors to avoid the cold air,” AccuWeather said.
The freeze warning applies to parts of:
- Arkansas
- Tennessee
- Mississippi
- Alabama
- Georgia
- North Carolina
- South Carolina
- Virginia
Winter storm tracker
National weather radar
Contributing: Orlando Mayorquin, Doyle Rice
Follow Jordan Mendoza on Twitter: @jordan_mendoza5.
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