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(CNN) --
Another major storm system will affect the West Coast of the United States this Friday, bringing heavy rain, snow on the mountains and strong winds.
In addition, the last day of the year will be wet in the northeast and southwest of the country.
The system that left thousands of customers without power in Oregon, and forced the closure of an interstate highway in Colorado, will sweep across the East on Friday and Saturday.
Thunderstorms will affect the South on Friday and will roll into the Northeast as showers on Saturday.
That means it will likely rain during New Year's Eve celebrations in New York City and Washington City this Saturday.
Los Angeles is also expected to ring in the new year under water.
A strong storm will unleash widespread heavy rain Friday through Saturday, creating flooding threats for much of northern and central California.
An active jet stream will continue to carry a parade of storms fed by an atmospheric river of moisture from the Pacific.
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An atmospheric river is a long, narrow region in the atmosphere that can carry moisture thousands of miles, like a fire hose in the sky.
This heavy rain will slide into southern California on Saturday and Sunday, accompanied by wind gusts from 30 mph to 50 mph.
A flood watch is in effect for more than 16 million people, which includes the entire Bay Area and Central Valley, through Saturday night.
The rain could subside on Saturday night before the calendar changes to 2023.
For southern California, strong gusts of wind of 48 km/h to 80 km/h are forecast this Sunday, as well as rain.
A Buffalo woman saved a man from freezing to death after pulling him out of the storm and calling for help on Facebook Live.
Showers are also expected in Buffalo, New York, this Saturday.
Adding to melting snow in the area and heightening authorities' concerns about localized flooding as the city tries to recover from a deadly winter storm.
Additional showers are anticipated early next week.
Rain chances for New York City will increase through Saturday, with the heaviest precipitation expected between 7 p.m. and 1 a.m. Sunday.
Temperatures will be near 10 degrees Celsius for most of the afternoon into Sunday.
Most of the central US should remain dry over the holiday weekend.
The eastern two-thirds of the country will be temperate.
Heavy snowfall will stretch across the Mountain West from the Sierra Nevada to the Rocky Mountains.
'Shallow' landslides expected in Northern California
Widespread rainfall accumulations of 2 to 4 inches may occur in northern and central California, but higher amounts of 5 to 7 inches are also expected for the foothills.
Northern California and the central California coast have already received 2 to 4 inches of rain in the past week.
The cumulative effect of multiple Pacific storm systems loaded with moisture from a powerful atmospheric river will increase the likelihood of effects such as flash flooding and landslides.
"Shallow landslides are now likely with heavy rains ahead on New Year's Eve," the San Francisco office of the National Weather Service warned.
There is a slight threat of excessive rain (level 2 of 4) along the Northern California coast, according to the Weather Prediction Center, including the Bay Area this Friday.
It stretches south along the coast to the Los Angeles area this Saturday.
The Sierra Nevada foothills are also under a Level 2 threat of excessive rain on Friday and Saturday.
“Moderate to heavy rains can cause flooding of rivers, streams and flood-prone areas,” the weather service office in Sacramento said.
“The low risk area mainly highlights places that already have high soil moisture content, fire scars, and urban areas,” the Climate Prediction Center said.
Heavy snowfall will spread in the mountains
Forecasts also call for heavy snow to spread across the western mountains, from the Sierra Nevada to the Rocky Mountains.
An eastbound stretch of Interstate 70 in Colorado reopened Thursday after a nine-hour closure that stranded drivers amid heavy mountain snow, widespread rain and gusty winds.
Perilous conditions Tuesday in Oregon left five dead, including a 4-year-old girl, after bad weather toppled trees on passing vehicles, state police said.
Wind gusts in the state exceeded 100 mph in some areas, according to the weather service.
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