After a day of historic rainfall in California, parts of the South are on alert for flooding and states in the north are preparing for ice as winter weather sweeps across the U.S.
In San Diego, where a state of emergency was declared, more than a month’s worth of rain fell in three hours on Monday. It was the city’s wettest January day on record, with a rainfall total of 2.73 inches. Typically, San Diego gets 1.98 inches of rain for the entire month of January.
Dozens of rescues were reported across San Diego County due to the historic rainfall.
A woman walks by cars damaged from floods during a rain storm, Jan. 22, 2024, in San Diego.
Denis Poroy/AP
A car sits along a flooded road during a rain storm, Jan. 22, 2024, in San Diego.
Gregory Bull/AP
Over the past three days, parts of Northern California and Southern California recorded 5 to 9 inches of rain amid a continuous onslaught of Pacific storms.
Most of California and the West Coast are expected to get a break from stormy weather, but more rain and snow is in the forecast for Northern California on Wednesday.
Part of that western storm that hit California is expected to combine with moisture in the Gulf of Mexico on Tuesday to bring flooding rain with a threat for damaging thunderstorms to the Gulf Coast, from Texas to Georgia. Flood watches are in effect Tuesday morning for six states across the South, from Texas to Alabama.
The highest threat for flooding on Tuesday and Wednesday will be from Houston to Little Rock, Arkansas, to New Orleans to Birmingham, Alabama. Local rainfall totals could be more than a half of a foot, with flash flooding in the forecast.
Today and tomorrow, the highest threat for flooding will be from Houston to Little Rock, Ark., New Orleans to Jackson, Miss. and into Birmingham, Ala.
ABC News
Meanwhile, an ice storm that struck states from Oklahoma to Illinois on Monday, leaving more than a quarter of an inch of ice on roads, sidewalks and trees, is expected to move into the Great Lakes region and parts of the Northeast on Tuesday.
Fourteen states from Kansas to Massachusetts were under alerts for ice and snow on Tuesday morning. Most areas are expected to see a glaze of ice and 1 to 2 inches of snow.
This morning, 14 states are on alert for ice and snow from Kansas to Massachusetts.
ABC News
The heaviest ice on Tuesday morning is forecast to hit the Midwest and southern Great Lakes regions, where a quarter of an inch of ice could accumulate.
Cars drive through heavy snow, Jan. 22, 2024, in Clawson, Mich.
WXYZ
A tow truck is seen assisting an overturned truck, Jan. 22, 2024, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
KCRG
Schools are closed in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, on Tuesday due to the weather.
The Northeast is expected to see an icy mix on Tuesday, with snow for Pennsylvania, upstate New York and the Hudson Valley, northern New Jersey, Connecticut and Massachusetts. There could be slick roads by the evening commute in parts of the Northeast.
Meanwhile, a major thaw is on the way for millions of Americans. Temperatures are expected to surpass 40, 50 or even 60 degrees in parts of the Midwest and Northeast later this week.