Although the two storms that hit the Northeast and California on Tuesday and Wednesday were lessening in intensity, floods, power outages, and travel difficulties remained a threat to both coasts.
Although many winter storm warnings were anticipated to be withdrawn throughout the day, both regions were bracing for additional snow, rain, and other inclement weather on Wednesday.
At locations like Peterborough, New Hampshire, and Ashby, Massachusetts, where nearly 3 feet of heavy, wet snow fell, the dig-out was in progress. The National Weather Service reported that at least 2 feet of snow fell in the Catskill Mountains and sections of northern New York.
This potent storm is expected to produce heavy mountain snow
The National Weather Service said that areas of northern and central California affected by the most recent atmospheric river may get snow accumulations as early as Wednesday. Ten atmospheric rivers—long plumes of moisture from the Pacific Ocean—and strong storms driven by Arctic air that generated blizzard conditions have recently targeted California.
“This potent storm is expected to produce heavy mountain snow and gusty winds from the Sierra to the central/northern Rockies,” forecast Paul Ziegenfelder said.
There were no early reports of injuries
The vast majority of the hundreds of districts that shut down their schools on Tuesday were reopening on Wednesday, though many were doing so with a delay.
After 15 inches of snow, an inflatable sports arena dome collapsed in Goffstown, New Hampshire. There were no early reports of injuries. At a dairy farm in Dracut, Massachusetts, a barn caved in, killing several cows. No employees of Shaw Farm were wounded, according to the proprietors.
Early on Wednesday, there were more than 150,000 households and businesses without power in New York and New England, and about 200,000 in California, mostly in the San Francisco Bay area.
Unitil, which provides electricity and natural gas in New Hampshire, Massachusetts, and Maine, was expecting a “multiday restoration effort,” spokesman Alec O’Meara warned.
