Wintery weather in the Mid-Atlantic prompted school delays and travel warnings on Dec. 8 as the Pacific Northwestbraced for an atmospheric riverthat's set to bring heavy rain and possible flooding to the region.
Federal forecasters issued winter weather warnings across Virginia, including the Richmond area, where 2 to 5 inches of snow could fall by the end of the day.
"Roads, and especially bridges and overpasses, will likely become slick and hazardous,"warned the National Weather Service officein Blacksburg, Virginia. "Plan on slippery road conditions. The hazardous conditions could impact the Monday morning and evening commutes."
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Surrounding states were also under winter weather advisories, including Kentucky, North Carolina and West Virginia. Dozens of school districts across the Mid-Atlantic announced delayed start times and closures due to hazardous travel conditions.
More:Flood watches hit Pacific Northwest, polar vortex brings icy weather east
Meanwhile, on the other side of the country, multiple states in the Pacific Northwest were expected heavy rain from an atmospheric river early this week. Flood watches and warnings were active throughout western Oregon, Washington and parts of Idaho and Montana.
The National Weather Service warned of widespread rainfall amounts of 4 to 6 inches, with up to a foot of rain falling along the foothills of the Cascades.
"Excessive runoff may result in flooding of rivers, creeks, streams, and other low-lying and flood-prone locations," the National Weather Service office in Portland, Oregon, said, adding: "People, structures, and roads located below steep slopes, in canyons, and near the mouths of canyons may be at serious risk from rapidly moving landslides."
See winter storm, flood warnings nationwide
The interactive map below shows all of the weather alerts (warnings, watches and advisories) currently in effect from the National Weather Service. This map is updated every 15 minutes.
School closures, delays abound amid snow forecast
Local school districts across the Mid-Atlantic opted to close schools, delay the start of class or switch to e-learning as forecasters warned of heavy snow and ice.
All public schools in Raleigh, North Carolina, shuttered because of the weather, according to theWake County Public School System, the state's largest school district with over 161,000 students. Nearly a dozen other school districts throughout the state announced schedule changes.
School delays and closures were also announced across in West Virginia and Virginia.
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How to prepare your home for the cold
Here are some tips to stay safe when it gets cold:
Make sure your home can be safely heated.
Always have supplies on hand for up to 10 days, in case you're without power or can't leave home, including non-perishable food, medicines, water and pet food.
Have your furnace checked.
Keep out the cold with caulking and weather stripping, and check to see if repairs are needed.
Check batteries in smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors.
Are your water pipes protected? Some people insulate their pipes, some wrap with heat tape. Others let their faucets drip a little to prevent frozen pipes.
Contributing: Karissa Waddick,Doyle Rice
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Snowstorm in the East as floods expected across the Pacific Northwest