Heavy snow and freezing rain caused hundreds of crashes in Virginia and left tens of thousands of residents in the dark as the central Appalachians and parts of the mid-Atlantic states are bracing for heavy rains.

Snow, sleet and freezing rain were expected to continue pummeling the central Appalachians and mid-Atlantic states Wednesday, while California readied for a storm that could flood areas ravaged by the recent wildfires.

Thursday, an area of low pressure will approach the southern Oregon Coast, will move inland bring precipitation into the Willamette Valley early morning and move north through the day. Precipitation will start as snow or freezing rain locally late morning or early afternoon.