Meanwhile, in the Midwest and on the East Coast...

[Content Note: Death.]

While fires rage on the West Coast, the East Coast had an unexpectedly bad snowstorm yesterday, claiming "at least eight lives and knocked out power for tens of thousands of people. A turbulent mix of rain, snow, and ice that initially hit the Midwest caused havoc from the south to the northeast Thursday."

This early season winter storm will bring more snow, sleet, and freezing rain in the Central Appalachians through the Northeast on Friday. Heavy snowfall is expected Friday in the northern Mid-Atlantic and Northeast states. In portions of Pennsylvania and New England, residents could see snowfall totals of 6 to 12 inches, the National Weather Service said.

More than 389,000 customers were without power Friday morning in Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio, West Virginia, Virginia, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey, according to Poweroutage.us.

This was a bad storm for a few reasons, not least of which because it made road conditions unusually perilous: In Montgomery County, PA (which is where I live), "the Department of Public Safety has reported more than 250 accidents in the county since noon Thursday. There have also been 350 disabled vehicles in Montgomery County."

And in New Jersey, "state police have responded to 555 motor vehicle crashes and 1,027 motorist aids in NJSP patrolled areas since midnight."

People are being advised not to travel if possible, but of course that's not an option for many people whose jobs won't wait for bad weather.

If you have to be on the roads today, I wish you safe travels.