The most powerful atmospheric river to hit California in months will dump rain and snow across the northern half of the state this week, as well as strong winds and the possibility of flooding, before eventually moving south, forecasters say. .
“This will be the first major storm of the season,” said Dial Huang, a National Weather Service meteorologist in Monterey. The low pressure system off the northwest coast of the Pacific Ocean that is driving this storm will begin rapidly gaining strength starting Tuesday, reaching the bomb cyclone threshold and significantly increasing its moisture and strength.
Parts of northwestern California will be under a flood and high wind watch starting Tuesday, with continued rain expected to bring 4 to 8 inches of rain over the next few days. Wind gusts of up to 110km/h are possible on some ridges.
A powerful storm system is expected to bring heavy snow, rain, and strong winds to the Pacific Northwest and Northern California through the middle of the week. As the storm reaches maximum strength on Wednesday, we can expect numerous flash flooding, dangerous travel, power outages and tree damage. pic.twitter.com/iFrmuUZfj7
— NWS Weather Prediction Center (@NWSWPC) November 18, 2024
“A powerful storm system will bring heavy snow, rain, and strong winds to the Pacific Northwest and Northern California into the middle of the week,” the National Weather Service Weather Prediction Center warned. “As the storm reaches its maximum intensity, we can expect numerous flash flooding, hazardous travel, power outages, and tree damage,” it said Wednesday.
But after the initial peak, the system is expected to linger into the weekend, with a second wave of rain moving farther south across much of the Bay Area, extending into the Central Coast and possibly reaching parts of Southern California. There is a possibility that
The North Bay is expected to receive 3 to 7 inches of rain from Wednesday through Sunday, with up to 11 inches expected in some areas, according to a National Weather Service forecast discussion. Officials expect only minor flooding in the region, as few areas have seen serious rain this season. Therefore, the soil should be able to absorb a significant amount of precipitation.
But some areas of the North Bay “will likely become saturated very quickly,” National Weather Service meteorologist Dalton Bellinger wrote in his daily forecast. “Even if we don’t see as much flooding impact on Wednesday, I wouldn’t be surprised if the flooding worsens with a second wave on Friday, with less rain expected during that time.” .”
Light rain is possible in Southern California by the weekend, but it won’t be enough to eliminate the threat of wildfires through the end of the year.
“We don’t know what’s going to happen in Northern California, but every little bit helps,” said Brian Lewis, a National Weather Service meteorologist in Oxnard. “Perhaps it’s still not enough to exonerate us completely. [for fire concerns]”
A winter storm watch has been issued for the Northern Sierras and other Northern California mountains above 3,500 feet, with 4 to 15 inches of snow possible Tuesday and Wednesday.
The storm appears to be bringing wet weather across the state, with above-average precipitation expected through at least Thanksgiving, according to the National Weather Service’s Climate Prediction Center.
