Four people died in California after major storms swept through the state this week, causing days of rain and flooding over the Christmas holiday — while in New York City, a storm was forecast to dump around a half-foot of snow.
While the "atmospheric river" that sent flooding rain over California was winding down Friday, parts of the Northeast got around 7 inches of snow by that evening and more was possible.
In California, a man was found dead Friday inside a sedan that was partially submerged in mud in Lancaster, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department said.
On Christmas Eve, Sacramento County sheriff's deputy James Caravallo died in a single-vehicle crash on his way to work on at a correctional center, the sheriff's office said. NBC affiliate KCRA of Sacramento reported roads were wet and officials believe the crash was weather-related.
In San Diego, Roberto Ruiz died Wednesday after a large tree branch fell on him, causing him to go into cardiac arrest, NBC San Diego reported, citing San Diego Fire-Rescue.
And on Sunday, Richard Michael Wilsey, 74, died in Redding as a result of the severe flooding, the Shasta County Sheriff’s Office said.
Flood watches remained for the Los Angeles region through Saturday because of runoff fears, the National Weather Service said.
Wrightwood, California, a community in the mountains northeast of Los Angeles, got nearly a foot of rain. One resident who lives in the area said he was shocked to wake up to a “river running through our property.” The floods reached homes and buried cars in mud.
Air and boat crews spent the holiday rescuing California residents trapped in high floodwaters, pulling some off of roofs.
In San Bernardino County, fire crews “saw some very dire situations,” including, in some cases, those who were trapped in their homes by up to 5 feet of mud and water, county fire department spokesman Christopher Prater said.
On Christmas Day, there was a weak EF0 tornado with estimated peak winds of 80 mph in the Boyle Heights section of Los Angeles, the National Weather Service said.
Winter weather hits the Northeast
A section of the Northeast including most of Pennsylvania and New York, as well as Connecticut and Massachusetts were under winter weather advisories or winter storm warnings Friday evening.
The winter weather in the Northeast and the West Coast on Friday contributed to more than 6,000 delayed flights and 1,600 cancellations into or out of the U.S., according to flight tracking website FlightAware. New York City area airports led in cancellations.
Heavy snowfall
The Northeast just missed a white Christmas, but the snow forecast beginning Friday could be a doozy.
New York City was expected to get up 11 inches of snow by 1 p.m. Saturday, the city’s emergency management agency said.
The highest amounts were likely along the northern part of the New York City and New Jersey metro areas, the National Weather Service said.
"Do not travel unless you absolutely have to," NYC Emergency Management warned Friday evening.
By around 10 p.m. Friday, 7 inches of snow had fallen in New Fairfield, Connecticut. New York City’s famed Central Park had a dusting of 0.3 inches, according to spotter reports to the National Weather Service.
Parts of Suffolk County on Long Island had between 4 and 5 inches of snow, it said.
The heaviest snow was expected to occur between 6 p.m. on Friday and 1 a.m. on Saturday, with snowfall rates reaching 1 to 2 inches per hour.
The Lower Hudson Valley, southern Connecticut and parts of northeast New Jersey will see 7 to 11 inches of snow, with higher local amounts possible.
New York City, Long Island and much of northeast New Jersey are forecast to get 5 to 9 inches, with local areas getting up to 11 inches.
The storm will create difficult travel conditions, including snow-covered roads and reduced visibility. Isolated fallen tree branches and power outages are also possible, according to the weather service.
Upstate New York will get some of the heaviest snowfall, with more than 10 inches forecast in isolated locations.
New York City could get 4 to 8 inches on Friday night, with snowfall rates of 1 to 2 inches per hour. Travel conditions could be dangerous in the New York metro area, with the highest snowfall rates expected between 7 p.m. and 10 p.m.
Central Park is forecast receive its first snowfall of greater than 4 inches since January 2022.
Significant icing and a wintry mix is also expected across northern Virginia and Pennsylvania.
Saturday morning will bring lighter snow showers and icy roads, but the storm should stop by the end of the day.
