An expansive severe thunderstorm outbreak brought the threat of "strong to violent" tornadoes and straight-line wind damage to 42 million people across at least 12 states on Friday.
The big picture: The severe weather is associated with a sharp cold front and intense storm system bringing heavy snow to the Plains and parts of the Midwest.
California's snowpack is at record-high levels following a relentless series of atmospheric rivers — and forecasters warn another winter storm is due to hit the Golden State this weekend.
The big picture: The latest bomb cyclone associated with an atmospheric river that dumped more heavy snow across the Sierra Nevada this week helped break the record 1982-1983 season in terms of water content on Thursday, per the California Department of Water Resources.
