Meanwhile, a “kitchen sink” storm barreling through the Plains and Upper Midwest has already manifested itself in offering the worst of every season. Tornadoes touched down in Louisiana, while thundersnow and thundersleet rattled Nebraska. This is coming on the heels of Denver’s snowiest day in three years.
The snow is targeting the Great Lakes, as strong winds spread over much of the Mississippi and Ohio valleys. The winds, gusting up to 60 mph at times, threaten to snarl air travel into and out of Chicago’s major hubs at O’Hare and Midway airports.
And that’s not all. The same upper-level disturbance that helped spin up the West Coast bomb cyclone will generate a third potent storm to the east. It will probably impact the eastern half of the Lower 48 this weekend.
Evacuation orders, warnings lifted in Santa Barbara amid worries of mudslides in burn areas
All evacuation orders and warnings in Santa Barbara County, Calif., were lifted as of Wednesday afternoon amid worries that the rain that helped firefighters battle the Cave Fire could lead to mudslides.
Progress fighting the fire — which has burned more than 4,000 acres since it erupted Monday and stands at 20 percent containment — means that “all should be in their homes later today and in time for Thanksgiving,” county fire department spokesman Mike Eliason said earlier in the day.
The Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office has lifted its “debris flow” evacuation warnings, but the National Weather Service in Los Angeles continues to caution that the issue could crop up in recently burned areas in southwest California.
Almost two years ago, a storm triggered devastating mudslides in the wake of the Thomas Fire, which experts say primed the slopes around Montecito, Calif., for erosion. The mudslides killed 23 people and destroyed more than 100 homes.
Authorities urge caution as Los Angeles is hit by rains
Rains are moving into Southern California, with one to two inches forecast in lower elevations, including Los Angeles and San Diego, with higher amounts in nearby mountains. Snow levels are low with this storm, possibly down to 2,500 feet by Wednesday night. More than a foot of snow is expected in the San Gabriel Mountains near Los Angeles.
Forecasters are warning of flash flood risks because of the heavy rains, as well as the possibility of debris flows in areas affected by recent wildfires.
Fire crews rescued a man from the swollen Los Angeles River on Wednesday as #LARain trended on Twitter with videos of rapids and authorities’ pleas for drivers to be cautious.
“Whether you call it a ‘bomb cyclone’ or #LARain, we’re seeing people driving too fast, following others cars too close & not turning on their headlights when using their wipers,” the Los Angeles Police Department warned in a tweet, urging people to “slow down.”
“Turn Around Do Not Drown,” the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department reminded travelers, saying six inches of swift water can carry a person away, while 12 can wash away a car.
Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti said the city is opening new emergency shelter beds to serve those experiencing homelessness amid the downpour.
#WATCHLIVE Swift Water Rescue near the 5 Fwy & Colorado Blvd in Atwater. https://t.co/FLx5JlvRLN
— ABC7 Eyewitness News (@ABC7) November 27, 2019
Power outages increase as winds cause damage in Midwest
The number of customers without power increased Wednesday, as Michigan, Indiana and Ohio joined California in experiencing a “major outage event.”
By midafternoon, more than 360,000 outages had been reported between those states and Wisconsin, according to the tracking website PowerOutage.us. Michigan was hardest hit at 99,775 customers without power, followed by California at 70,559, Indiana at 70,416, Ohio at 70,000 and Wisconsin at 49,534. Strong winds were listed as the main cause in all areas.
Gusty winds could ground balloons at Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade
Strong winds could ground the eagerly awaited giant balloons at the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City on Thursday.
Forecasts call for sustained northwesterly winds of 16 to 24 mph, with gusts to 40 mph.
“Based on the city’s guidelines, no giant character balloon will be operated when there are sustained wind conditions exceeding 23 mph and wind gusts exceeding 34 mph,” said Macy’s spokesman Orlando Veras in a statement. Tall buildings in the city could funnel winds, leading to isolated, erratic gusts higher than forecast.
Macy’s indicated that the decision to ground the giant balloons — which has only occurred once, in 1971 — will be based on observations, and not forecasts. Anemometers installed along the parade route will be closely monitored leading up to and during the parade.
Strict regulations put in place by the city of New York following a nearly deadly episode in 1997 during which an uncontrolled Cat in the Hat balloon toppled a light pole onto several parade spectators.
Minneapolis declares a snow emergency
Minneapolis on Wednesday joined St. Paul and other Minnesota cities in declaring a snow emergency after more than eight inches of snow fell overnight and into Wednesday morning. The move comes after significant snowfall and restricts parking to allow snow emergency routes to be plowed. Vehicles that aren’t removed are subjected to ticketing and towing.
At least 15 other Minneapolis-area cities had declared snow emergencies as of Wednesday afternoon, according to local television station KSTP.
California to Oregon road link remains shuttered
A 100-mile stretch of Interstate 5 in Northern California remained closed in the northbound direction on Wednesday due to heavy snowfall and the high number of vehicles that had spun out along the roadway.
The California Department of Transportation said in a tweet that Northbound I-5 is expected to reopen mid- to late- afternoon. The agency was still working with California Highway Patrol to remove cars midday.
See crazy scene of vehicles stuck in snow on closed Interstate 5 near Dunsmuir CA https://t.co/PPxmIbUQ2n #CAwx pic.twitter.com/VUPtIXEKQF
— David Caraccio (@DavidCaraccio) November 27, 2019
The southbound portion reopened earlier Wednesday, but transportation officials warned of heavy traffic and long delays. Even when the freeway reopens, travelers should expect traffic to be slow-moving, they said. “If they can wait longer to leave,” Caltrans spokeswoman Denise Yergenson, told the Redding Record Searchlight, “they should wait.”
Winds are picking up across the Midwest
Strong winds are ongoing across the Midwest, making for tricky travel through several major air hubs. Winds were southwesterly in Chicago, gusting to 53 mph by 10 a.m. local time, according to data from the National Weather Service.
In Indianapolis, winds were sustained at 44 mph, with gusts to 56 mph. Springfield, Ill., was gusting to nearly 50 mph, while Detroit has peaked above 40 mph. Winds will probably become even a touch stronger Wednesday afternoon for Chicago and Indianapolis, picking up some in Detroit as well.
Winds could abruptly increase in intensity by 1 or 2 p.m. in Cleveland.
These winds are the result of a strong air pressure gradient surrounding a storm centered over the Great Lakes, and they are leading to bumpy flights. Moderate turbulence has been reported by airline pilots flying above the Tennessee Valley as well as the Great Lakes.
Flight delays start increasing
The Federal Aviation Administration is reporting delays at a handful of airports across the United States due to weather.
After heavy snowfall Tuesday and early Wednesday, Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport is experiencing some of the longest delays, with arriving flights held up an average of one hour and 19 minutes. Newark Liberty International Airport is seeing incoming flight delays of 50 minutes due to windy conditions. Meanwhile, low clouds and fog are causing flights heading to San Francisco International Airport to experience delays averaging 50 minutes.
An even worse storm to come for return travelers?
By Friday, another storm will begin to develop over the Rockies, bringing snow to places such as Salt Lake City — a major airport hub.
It will then transfer its energy to a more powerful surface low organizing over the Plains. Along its cold front, strong storms are possible to the south Friday night. That could bring airport headaches in Dallas and Oklahoma City. Heavy rain is possible farther north in Kansas City.
Heavy snow totals are likely on the cold side of the system, but pinpointing exactly where that will be is proving to be difficult. The American GFS model keeps temperatures above freezing over Nebraska, the Dakotas and the Corn Belt. The European model, however, is several degrees colder — favoring plowable snow totals approaching the double digits over much of the Northern Plains on Saturday. The storm will shift toward the Twin Cities on Sunday, potentially bringing rain and wind to the Great Lakes and affecting air travel out of Chicago.
There are early indications the storm could dissipate some over the Ohio Valley as it hands off its energy to a potential nor’easter off the Atlantic coast. That could make for a classic mixed bag of wintry precipitation for much of New England, with inland/mountain snow, rain, and strong winds near the coast.
Sunday and Monday look like potentially rough travel days in the Northeast Corridor, including cities such as Boston and Providence, with even some potential impact to the New York City hubs as well.
Power outages complicate Thanksgiving travel for many
More than 200,000 customers are without power amid powerful storm systems in California and the Midwest, and this number could go up as winds increase in the Midwest. The Golden State is experiencing a “major outage event,” with 76,422 outages reported, according to the tracking website PowerOutage.us.
Indiana has the second-most number of outages, at 47,615, followed by Michigan at 32,801, Wisconsin at 27,009 and Kentucky at 17,003.
Midwest storm slows travelers from Minneapolis to Ohio Valley
A second, powerful storm system is enveloping the Midwest, with heavy snow, high winds and cold temperatures. Heavy snow fell Tuesday night into early Wednesday in Minneapolis, where flights are still delayed due to de-icing operations and high winds, according to the FAA’s website.
As the storm intensifies and moves northeastward toward Canada, it will kick up potentially damaging winds across a wide swath. The entire Ohio Valley is under high wind warnings or wind advisories. In Chicago, winds Wednesday could gust as high as 60 mph between 9 a.m. and about 6 p.m. local time, which is likely to brew major issues at O’Hare and Midway airports. It’s a similar story in Indianapolis.
Two powerful storms are impacting the United States today. All #Thanksgiving travelers are urged to check https://t.co/WCLxtW2Ob8 for the latest forecast. https://t.co/4stXraj21l pic.twitter.com/PwfnaD4BeJ
— UW-Madison CIMSS (@UWCIMSS) November 27, 2019
The high winds will reduce the number of flights that can go in or out of these airports at a given time due to a reduction in available runways and flight paths. It will also yield a bumpy ride for passengers.
Travelers hitting the road in the Midwest and Ohio Valley will also encounter gusty winds and cold temperatures, and snowfall throughout the day in northern Wisconsin and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.
‘Bomb cyclone’ swirls eastward, dumping feet of snow
An unprecedented storm that struck California and Oregon on Tuesday, setting an record for the lowest air pressure reading ever observed in California, is now barreling eastward, spreading heavy snow, rain and high winds as it does so. Winds associated with this storm were clocked at a whopping 106 mph.
Virtually the entire Sierra Nevada range is blanketed beneath winter storm warnings with strong jet stream dynamics and plentiful moisture expected to churn out snow measured in feet.
The National Weather Service is forecasting more than 50 inches through Friday in Lodgepole, Calif., ordinarily just a two-hour drive up the mountains from Fresno. Yosemite Valley is firmly nestled within the 34- to 50-inch contour, while Mammoth Lakes will “only” see about two and a half feet.
The National Weather Service in Reno wrote that “this storm is coinciding with one of the busiest travel periods of the year, resulting in major travel impacts.” They expressed particular concern for the Highway 395 corridor. With a pocket of anomalously chilly air hovering at the mid levels of the atmosphere, heavy snow could reach elevations as low as 2,000 feet.
Heavy snows will also spread into Utah, dumping several inches in Salt Lake City and far more in the popular ski resorts of the Wasatch Range, such as Park City. Travelers going in or out of Salt Lake City International Airport, which is a hub for Delta Air Lines, could experience delays Wednesday.