Nearly 65 million Americans under weather alerts as winter storm blasts country – with Philadelphia forecasting biggest snowfall in two years and California braced for MORE flooding and mudslides
Nearly 65 million Americans are under weather warnings as a fast-hitting winter storm ravages the country.
Much of the East Coast woke up to a blanket of snow Saturday morning as Philadelphia braced for its biggest dump in two years.
The National Weather Service warned that the Pennsylvania city could see up to an inch of fall per hour, with a total of 6 inches by lunchtime.
Advisories were also issued for New Jersey and New York, where snowfall had already exceeded expectations by as much as six inches in some areas.
Drivers were warned of difficult conditions, with temperatures expected to hover around freezing point when wind chill is taken into account.
Nearly 65 million Americans are under a weather warning as a winter storm hits the country
Much of the East Coast woke up to snowfall Saturday morning, with accumulations from the Ohio Valley to the Jersey Shore (photo)
Philadelphia (pictured) was expected to get more snow than the past two years, with forecasts of up to six inches
Louie’s dog plays catch at Rockwood Park after several inches of snow fell overnight in Wilmington, Delaware
At the same time, a second atmospheric river will flow into the West Coast, pummeling California with even more rain.
The weather system will persist until Sunday, drenching the Golden State with several inches of rainfall and raising the possibility of more flooding and landslides.
In the mountains, snowfall will likely be measured in feet, continuing the active weather pattern seen in the region in recent weeks.
Flood warnings have been issued for several areas, including San Francisco, Sacramento, Fresno and Los Angeles.
It comes after many parts of California were inundated by catastrophic flash flooding last week, sweeping away homes and rescuing people from submerged vehicles.
The Pacific storm was the second “Pineapple Express” weather system to hit the West Coast in less than a week, dumping torrential rain on Southern California.
There were more than 120 mudslides and the brutal weather system claimed the lives of at least three people.
All three were killed by fallen trees: 82-year-old David Gomes in the former gold rush town of Yuba City and a 45-year-old Robert Brainard II in Boulder Creek in the Santa Cruz Mountain coastal range.
A blanket of snow clings to the trees in Neptune Township, New Jersey
Drivers were warned of difficult conditions, with temperatures expected to hover around freezing when wind chill is taken into account
Amy Nakamoto-Brown and her dog Bogey enjoy an early morning walk in Rockwood Park, Delaware
Another man, Chad Ensey, was also killed by a falling tree in Carmichael, just east of Sacramento. He was 41 years old.
In one of the most dramatic rescues, an LA Fire Department helicopter hovered over a raging LA river to rescue a man who had ventured into the current to save his dog.
The man was found safe and flown to a hospital. The dog was also able to swim to safety.
The normally calm waterway came back to life as rain fell and was about to burst its banks. More than a foot of rain fell in just 24 hours, with the storm not expected to subside until later in the week.
There were fears of a repeat of the deadly scenes as the NWS warned that as much as eight inches of rain could fall on ground that had already been saturated in recent weeks.
Californians have been urged to avoid low-lying areas during the rainstorms.
Forecasters also issued a winter storm warning from 4pm on Sunday until 10am on Wednesday, predicting wind gusts of up to 90km/h and the possibility of power outages.
A second atmospheric river will flow into the West Coast and hit California with even more rain
It comes after large parts of California were inundated by catastrophic flash flooding last week, sweeping away homes and rescuing people from submerged vehicles
In a dramatic river rescue, an LA Fire Department helicopter crew pulled a man from the turbulent waters of the Los Angeles River after his dog fell in.
Firefighters were able to rescue both the dog and the man, who were on drier land. Forecasters predict up to 20 centimeters of rain in this latest weather system, which is due to hit saturated land, raising fears of more landslides
Traveling can be very difficult to impossible. The Hazardous conditions may impact travel over holiday weekends with snow-covered roads, reduced visibility at times, chain checks and possible road closures,” the warning said.
‘If you must travel, make sure you have an extra flashlight, food and water in your car in case of an emergency. Slow down and use caution when traveling.”
At higher altitudes, snow accumulations of 10 to 20 cm are forecast above 1800 meters and up to 30 meters above 2400 metres. The heaviest snowfall is expected on Sunday night and Monday.