81,000 Californians without power as storms strengthen

A strengthening storm system will eject into the central Plains early Thursday before it deepens and pushes northeastward into the Upper Great Lakes by Friday, as forecast by the NWS yesterday.

The report warns, “As the system moves east, a stripe of locally heavy snow may extend from northeast Nebraska to the U.P. of Michigan between Thursday and Friday,” noting that “gusty winds, snow-covered roads, and reduced visibility could create difficult travel.”

The Storm Prediction Center has issued an Enhanced Risk (level 3/5) of severe thunderstorms, with the warm side of the system expected to bring “showers and thunderstorms from the southern Plains to the lower Mississippi Valley” on Thursday before shifting towards the Southeast and eastern Gulf Coast on Friday.

“Crews across California are working hard to repair storm damage and protect communities,” tweeted the Office of the Governor of California yesterday.

Meanwhile, a significant nor’easter has blanketed the Northeast in snow, with some areas seeing over three feet of snowfall since Sunday.

“Winter Storm Warnings are in effect for part of northern Vermont,” and “Freeze Watches and Warnings are in effect for parts of the Mid-Atlantic and Southeast,” stated the NWS. However, it also shared, “Effects from this storm are expected to end Thursday morning.”

According to poweroutage.us, there are currently over 81,000 customers without power in California, while more than 40,000 remain in the dark across the Northeast.