Name: Parts of western U.S. contend with heavy rain, snow
Uploaded: 2025-12-21T03:55:46.479Z
Duration: 1 min 52 s
Description: Thirteen million people are under flood watches or warnings in the western U.S., while across the country thousands of flights have been delayed or canceled. CBS News meteorologist Andrew Kozak tracks it all.

Thirteen million people are under flood watches or warnings in the western U.S., while across the country thousands of flights have been delayed or canceled. CBS News meteorologist Andrew Kozak tracks it all.

Parts of the western United States are experiencing severe weather, including heavy rain, snow, and strong winds. Flooding has led to rescues and road closures, with 13 million people currently under flood watches or warnings. The Pacific Northwest is expected to see continued active weather, with atmospheric river conditions bringing significant precipitation and increasing the risk of flash flooding and mudslides.

Travel disruptions are widespread, with thousands of flights delayed or canceled nationwide. Flood alerts are in effect for Washington, Oregon, and Northern California, and significant rainfall and mountain snow are forecast through the following week. Above average temperatures are expected to return for much of the country, including the East Coast.

Parts of western U.S. contend with heavy rain, snow

We begin tonight with dangerous weather in the West and Western Washington state. A truck driver was rescued by US Border Patrol. They brought in a tractor to get him to safety after floodwaters trapped him in his truck. All of that rain washed out a highway in the mountains east of Seattle, and tonight 13 million people are under flood watches or warnings, while in higher elevations, snow is piling up in Boulder, Colorado. Wind is the problem with blinding conditions making driving difficult and across the country today. Thousands of flights have been delayed and hundreds canceled. CBS meteorologist Andrew Kozak is tracking it all for us tonight. Yeah, good evening Tom. The lead off tonight. The Pacific Northwest. The weather still some of the most active weather that we're going to see across the country, not just for the remainder of the weekend, but into a good portion of next week. I have this loop on the radar showing rain and mountain snow all the way past Christmas even into next Friday, and we have because of that are going to be atmospheric River once again. Being active, just a quick reminder what it is. It's basically the driving force, like an upper level conveyor belt, bringing moisture up and over the mountains. Comes back down as heavy Valley rain, mountain snow, flash flooding and mudslides. They're still going to be very possible, if not likely over the course of the next couple of days. Because of that, we have flood alerts for Washington, Oregon and now Northern California. That becomes more of a focal point as we get closer to Christmas. If you have travel plans in this area, especially for the Sierra Nevada, you need to give yourself a lot of extra time. In fact, not only are we looking at some heavy rain, but some really heavy amounts of rain. We're talking for many areas along the Valley 6 to 12 inches, 8 to 12 inches of mountain snow. Above average temperatures do return for a big portion of the country, including the East Coast. Starting tomorrow or back in the 40s, quiet across the midsection of the country. Tom that weather is brutal. Andrew Kozak. Thank you for that.

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