Snow and freezing rain pummel the mid-Atlantic while California prepares for likely flooding

Snow, sleet and freezing rain were expected to continue pummeling the central Appalachians and mid-Atlantic states Wednesday, while California readied for a storm that could flood areas ravaged by the recent wildfires.Especially heavy snowfall — up to nearly 14 inches — was expected in parts of Virginia and West Virginia, according to the National Weather Service.Ice accumulations could reach more than a third of an inch in Stanleytown, Virginia, and a quarter of an inch in Glendale Springs, North Carolina.In California, an atmospheric river — a long band of water vapor that can transport moisture from the tropics to more northern areas — was expected to move in late Wednesday, likely flooding urban areas across central and Southern California, according to the weather service.The snowstorm that blew into the mid-Atlantic states on Tuesday caused accidents on icy roads and prompted school closures.

By Tuesday night, nearly 12,000 people in Virginia had lost power, according to PowerOutage.us.“Stay home and off the roads tonight, Virginia,” the Virginia Department of Transportation posted on social media Tuesday night, alongside a meme of Dorothy from “The Wizard of Oz” saying, “There’s no place like home.”In parts of Baltimore and Washington, an inch of snow was falling each hour, according to the weather service.All Washington public schools were closed Wednesday due to the weather.Appalachian Power, which serves 1 million customers in West Virginia, Virginia and Tennessee, said Tuesday it had 5,400 workers dedicated to restoring power.About 65 Virginia National Guard soldiers were at facilities along the Interstate 95 and State Route 29 corridors and in southwest Virginia to support the storm response, guard officials said.

Another 20 soldiers and members of the Virginia Defense Force were in support roles.Winter storm warnings extended from northwest North Carolina to southern New Jersey, and the snow-and-ice mix was expected to become ...