Incoming heavy rain from an atmospheric river-fueled storm that slammed into the West Coast early Wednesday is threatening mudslides and debris flows in Southern California and has already prompted evacuations in the Los Angeles area.

California braced for the arrival of a massive storm on Wednesday, evacuating residents in areas at risk of mudslides and debris flows.

Late-winter storms bringing heavy rain, evacuation order and warnings, flood warnings and road closures is in the forecast Wednesday for Los Angeles and Orange counties and is expected to douse the region for the next three days.

A storm could move through the Chicago area Friday night bringing severe weather. Temperatures could reach the 70s during the day. Wind gusts could reach up to 50 mph Saturday with mostly sunny skies and temperatures in the 60s for the parade.

It's becoming increasingly likely that severe thunderstorms will bring heavy rains and damaging winds to the New Orleans area on Saturday, a scenario that could disrupt St. Patrick's Day festivities across the region.

Increasing clouds tonight with lows in the upper 40s to around 50. Winds will be southwest at 5-10 mph. THURSDAY: Clouds with a stray shower or storm possible, mainly over the Plateau. Highs will be around 70 or so.

The forecast comes days after an expansive storm similarly trekked across the U.S. last week, unloading snow in the northern Plains and bringing tornadoes and wildfires to the South. At least five storm-related deaths in Nebraska and Mississippi were tied to that storm.

Severe thunderstorms, flooding rainfall, damaging winds, wildfires, record temperatures and snow are all possible across the United States.