February 24, 2023

California braces for dangerous flooding as massive storm moves in

WATCH: Extreme weather to continue into weekend

California is bracing for dangerous flooding as a rare winter storm slams the state.

Justin Sullivan/Getty Images
In an aerial view, a dusting of snow covers the property at the Castello di Amorosa Winery on Feb. 24, 2023 in Calistoga, California.

Six inches of rain is forecast for the Southern California coast, from Santa Barbara to San Diego, Friday night into Saturday. Wind gusts could reach 70 mph and flooding and mudslides are possible.

In Ventura and Santa Barbara counties, rainfall rates could reach 1 inch per hour.

Mario Tama/Getty Images
A snowman stands as snow blankets the Angeles National Forest in Los Angeles County on February 23, 2023 near Claremont, California.
Terry Pierson/AP
Kamal Rahm,3, of Carlsbad, enjoys the snow at Yucaipa Community Park in Yucaipa, Calif., on Thursday, February 23, 2023. (Terry Pierson/The Orange County Register via AP)

California is also seeing snow. A rare blizzard warning was issued for Southern California where up to 8 feet of snow is possible in the highest elevations in the San Gabriel and San Bernardino mountains.

Snowfall rates could reach 2 inches per hour. Strong winds and whiteout conditions are expected.

Mike Eliason/AP
In this photo provided by the Santa Barbara County Fire Department, a snow plow clears snow near the 2,200 ft summit of San Marcos Pass along Highway 154 in Santa Barbara County, Calif., Feb. 23, 2023.
Haven Daley/AP
A man walks near the entrance to snow-covered Mount Tamalpais State Park in Mill Valley, Calif., Feb. 24, 2023.

A dusting of snow has even reached the hills around San Francisco and the hills of Hollywood.

Dean Musgrove/The Orange County Register via AP
With temperatures in the 30's, a dusting of snow is seen early Thursday morning, Feb. 23, 2023, above the homes in the Porter Ranch section of Los Angeles, in the north end of the San Fernando Valley.
MORE: 7 things to know before driving in the snow

In the Midwest, residents are digging out from their own winter storm.

Over 600,000 customers in Michigan are without power Friday after an ice storm hit, coating trees and power lines.

MORE: What to know about about power outage, carbon monoxide safety

A volunteer firefighter in Paw Paw, Michigan, died Wednesday evening when a power line fell on him, according to Paw Paw Fire Chief Jim DeGroff. The buildup of ice caused a tree limb to snap the line, DeGroff said.

A GoFundMe identified the victim as Ethan Quillen, who leaves behind his wife and daughter.

Minneapolis saw over 1 foot of snow, marking the city’s second-biggest February snowstorm.

Craig Lassig/AFP via Getty Images
A man goes for a walk in front of the Minneapolis skyline at Bde Maka Ska Park during a snowstorm in Minneapolis, Feb. 22, 2023.
Craig Lassig/AFP via Getty Images
Traffic is moving on interstate 35W during a snowstorm in Minneapolis, Feb. 22, 2023.
Craig Lassig/AFP via Getty Images
People clear snow from a driveway during a snowstorm in Minneapolis, Feb. 22, 2023.

Looking ahead, a short-lived cold blast is expected for the Northeast.

In Texas, Oklahoma and Kansas, damaging winds and hail are forecast for Sunday evening.

And that storm is forecast to reach the Northeast Monday night into Tuesday, potentially bringing heavy snow to New England.