California was preparing for a storm that could flood areas ruined by the recent wildfires. Meanwhile, freezing rain and heavy snow caused numerous traffic crashes in Virginia.
An atmospheric river – a narrow corridor or filament of concentrated moisture in the atmosphere – was expected to move in on Wednesday, flooding the regions across Southern and Central California. According to the California Department of Water Resources, more than 700,000 sandbags have been placed in these areas.
Authorities in California issued a voluntary evacuation in Orange County (an area that has been affected by the wildfires). Officials said people should be prepared for a mandatory evacuation in case it gets to that point.
Meantime, Virginia has been facing lots of snow and bitterly cold temperatures. About 7,000 flights were canceled across the United States. School was called off for a second day in Virginia and the state police reported around 850 car crashes on Tuesday and Wednesday. Some of these crashes temporarily shut down a couple of major highways.
