Winter storm watches in the Plains, Midwest; flooding in California: Wednesday forecast
Thursday updates: Read the latest weather news here.
Winter weather warnings and other advisories that struck the Plains this week are moving east on Wednesday, extending into parts of the Midwest.
Snow, ice and other frigid weather continued to impact areas in a band across the northern United States from Montana to Illinois, with some cities expecting up to 10 inches of snow.
But treacherous winter weather is still set to hit other parts of the country this week. Meteorologists said an atmospheric river and flooding could hit the northern and central parts of California beginning on Thursday, while a freeze warning targeted a part of the South on Wednesday morning.
Here’s what you need to know.
Weather: Atmospheric river in California weather forecast could melt snow, cause floods
What's the difference?: Sleet vs. freezing rain vs. hail
Winter storm conditions extend from Montana to Illinois
Winter storm watches and other advisories extended across the Plains and into the Midwest on Wednesday. A winter storm watch was in effect in South Dakota, with snow accumulations of 6 or more inches possible, according to the National Weather Service.
A winter weather advisory is in effect in northern Nebraska, with snow accumulations of up to 6 inches possible in addition to ice accumulations.
A winter storm watch is also in effect Thursday in parts of Iowa, Minnesota and Wisconsin, with up to 10 inches of snow expected. The National Weather Service in La Crosse, Wisconsin, warned that the heavy snow could make travel “very difficult” during the evening commute on Thursday.
Flooding fears in California
A flood watch is set to take effect in northern and central California later this week, from Thursday through the weekend in a large swath of the Golden State. Runoff from heavy rain and snow melting could cause flooding into roadways, and the heaviest rain is expected Thursday night into Friday.
An atmospheric river will impact parts of the state beginning Thursday afternoon, the National Weather Service explained.
What is an atmospheric river? They're streams of water vapor that can extend the thousands of miles from the tropics to the West Coast, fueling rain and snowstorms that may cause flooding.
Freezing temperatures in the South
A freeze warning is in effect Wednesday morning in parts of east Tennessee and southwest Virginia, with temperatures as low as 28 degrees expected.
Frost and freeze conditions can kill crops, the National Weather Service in Morristown, Tennessee, warned. People may want to cover above-ground pipes to protect them from potentially freezing.
Winter storm tracker
National weather radar
Contributing: Doyle Rice, USA TODAY
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Wednesday forecast: Winter storm reaches Illinois, Flooding in CA
