Heavy rains in Pacific Northwest leave communities cut off by floodwaters and fearing landslides as more than 25 inches fall in one day: Icy conditions in Northeast spark travel nightmare with 5,100 flights canceled

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  Floods hit parts of the Pacific Northwest on Friday after heavy rains, while a winter storm brought more than a half a foot in snow in the Northeast, closing schools, offices and busy roads
• Flood and gale warnings are in place across many coastal areas in the Pacific Northwest, whilst winter storm warnings remained for eastern parts of Maine, according to the National Weather Service
• Snow and rain forced the closure of parts of Washington state’s two major highways, Interstate 90 and Interstate 5 with flooding that also swamped roads throughout Western Washington and Oregon 
• Winter storm on the East Coast blanketed New York with eight inches of snow as the city experienced its first snowfall of the season 
• National Weather Service placed 100 million Americans under weather alerts on Friday 
• Snow is expected in several areas in the West, including sections of Colorado, Oregon, Montana, Idaho, Washington State and Wyoming
• The National Avalanche Center in Seattle warned that major avalanches could strike in the Cascade Mountains, Olympic National Park and Mount Hood 
• Airlines canceled 5,100 flights within, into or out of the United States by Friday night

By ADRIANA DIAZ and JAMES GORDON FOR DAILYMAIL.COM 

At least one person was missing and presumed dead as snow turned to rain and deluged the Pacific Northwest on Friday, causing flooding, landslides and the danger of avalanches.

A 72-year-old man disappeared and is presumed dead after leaving his residence to move his car to higher ground on Friday morning west of Olympia, Washington, in Cosmopolis, according to Grays Harbor Undersheriff Brad Johansson.

The man’s home was on a road that was flooded and authorities fear his vehicle was swept into floodwaters down a steep bank next to his driveway, Johansson said.

Snow and rain forced the closure of parts of Washington State‘s two major highways – Interstate 90 and Interstate 5 – with flooding that also swamped roads throughout western Washington and Oregon.

The torrential downpour in the West came after snow pounded the eastern part of the country, cancelling another  5,100 flights to, from and within the United States by Friday night, according to Flightaware.com.

More than 50,000 customers along the West Coast are currently without power, while Virginia was the worst-hit state for power outages in the East, data from poweroutage.us showed.

The snowstorm in the East covered parts of Kentucky, Virginia, Pennsylvania, New York and Maryland with 6 to 8 inches of powder, and some coastal New England towns saw more than a foot of snow. +97

A residential cul-de-sac is covered in floodwaters after heavy rain in Chehalis, Washington State on Friday +97

A truck drives along a a road covered in floodwaters after heavy rain in Chehalis, Washington on Friday+97

Floodwater flows past an abandoned jeep after heavy rain in Chehalis, Washington on Friday+97

A residential cul-de-sac is covered in floodwaters after heavy rain in Chehalis, Washington, shot with a drone from overhead

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A car drives through water over the road on NE Kresky Ave. in Centralia, Washington +97

Vehicles drive through water over a street near NE Kresky Ave. in Centralia, Washington+97

People stand in a doorway at Vans Motorsports Co. as water rises in their parking lot, in Centralia, Washington+97

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Huge amounts of moisture have been dumped on the Pacific Northwest rain and slow triggering landslides and avalanches+97

More than a 25 inches of rain fell with three feet of snow falling in some of the more mountainous areas of Washington State

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 In southwestern Washington’s Lewis County, a 20-mile stretch of Interstate 5 had been closed in both directions south of Chehalis because of flooding from the Chehalis River. All lanes of Interstate 5 in that area reopened Friday afternoon.

The major route across Washington’s Cascades – I-90 over Snoqualmie Pass – closed Thursday due to avalanche danger, heavy snow and low visibility. Stevens Pass on US 2, White Pass on US 12 and Blewett Pass on US 97 also closed Thursday.

Transportation officials say the four mountain passes that connect western Washington with eastern Washington likely would remain closed until Sunday because of the dangerous conditions.

And part of one of the only other roads crossing the state, State Route 14 on the Washington side of the Columbia River, closed for several hours on Friday because of a fatal crash near Lyle, Finn said.

Washington State University canceled classes Monday and Tuesday to allow students ample time to return to Pullman in eastern Washington following the severe winter weather, officials said on the university’s website.

Near Stevens Pass northeast of Seattle, the city of Leavenworth declared a state of emergency and asked for National Guard help after 3 feet of snow fell in 24 hours.

City leaders are concerned about the weight of snow on buildings and homes, KCPQ reported.

In Seattle’s Magnolia neighborhood, firefighters responded to a home that slid down a hillside. Live video from KING appeared to show crews rescuing a person and working to extinguish a fire just outside the home.

A man trapped in the home’s basement was extricated, according to the Seattle Fire Department. A woman escaped on her own while one dog died and another is missing, firefighters said……More Here

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