This week's winter storms will bring more icy and snowy weather

The first of this week's back-to-back winter storms is dumping snow, ice, and rain across a 1,500-mile span of the eastern United States on Tuesday.

The second winter storm will strike some of the same locations in rapid succession, dropping the heaviest snow of the season over Chicago. The third storm is the most dangerous flood threat Southern California has seen since January's deadly wildfires.

The winter storm expected to strike Tuesday is expected to produce 4 to 8 inches of snow, dropping at a rate of 1 inch per hour from northeast Kentucky to Virginia and the Interstate 95 corridor, making the nighttime commute very difficult for many people.

The same storm is expected to deliver heavy rains throughout the South and Southeast, potentially causing isolated flooding.

Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin issued a state of emergency, and the Virginia Department of Transportation advised people to "stay off the roads."

Heavy rain is falling to the south on the storm's warmer side. Flooding is possible over most of the South through Wednesday. The Weather Prediction Center has issued a level 2 of 4 danger for sections of every state from Texas to the Carolinas, including many places still recuperating from Hurricane Helene.

The next storm will build in the central United States, while its precursor continues to dump snow and ice to the east and rain to the south. Snow, ice, and rain are forecast across the Plains overnight Tuesday and Wednesday morning.

On Sunday, Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly declared a state of disaster emergency in response to the storm.

The wintry mess will swiftly spread Wednesday, encompassing most of the Midwest and parts of the Northeast by the evening.

The majority of the storm will be on the East Coast by Thursday morning, with snow and ice covering the Northeast and rain dropping further south. Some portions of the East will have only a few hours between the end of the first storm and the beginning of the second.

The Plains and Midwest will see the most snowfall from this storm. They might reach double digits in Kansas City, Missouri, on Wednesday, nearly double the city's average for the month of February.

This storm will bring more rain and thunderstorms to the South on Wednesday. Some thunderstorms may develop severe in regions of Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama beginning in the afternoon, with a Level 2 of 5 hazard.

The third storm is still in the Pacific Ocean, but it will start to rain on the West Coast on Wednesday morning, including Los Angeles and San Francisco.

This storm, unlike the other two, will hit California fully developed.

The atmospheric river-fueled storm will pack a powerful punch from the outset, with rain falling over parts of the state's coast early Thursday morning. Rain will become heavier during the day as it moves deeper inland and extends throughout the whole state.

According to the WPC, portions of California's Los Angeles and Ventura counties, including areas burnt by the Palisades and Eaton fires, have a Level 3 of 4 danger of flooding rains on Thursday. More than 35 million people in the remainder of the state face a level 2 of 4 risk of floods on Thursday. The danger region includes San Francisco, Sacramento, and San Diego, as well as surrounding locations.

This storm will also deliver significant snow to California's Sierra Nevada and other high locations in the West. It will travel east Thursday night and Friday, reaching the Plains by early Saturday morning.

At a press conference, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass cautioned residents that debris flows from last month's wildfires pose an increased risk to the neighborhood.

"The city is making preparations for the rain. "We have a head start," Bass explained.

Bass said that more than 7,500 feet of concrete barriers and 6,500 sandbags had been put around Pacific Palisades. Residents are encouraged to visit Los Angeles fire stations to obtain sandbags for themselves in preparation for probable flooding.

When the powerful storm approaches the central United States, it will be reenergized and substantially larger in size. Snow will fall throughout the Midwest on Saturday and cover most of the Northeast by the evening. Some sleet and ice may combine with snow in the Northeast, with rain soaking regions further south Saturday night.