Strong Atmospheric River to Hit California
First Major Storm of the Season
A powerful atmospheric river is expected to dump rain and snow across the northern half of California this week, bringing high winds and possible flooding before making its way south. The National Weather Service (NWS) has issued flood and high wind watches for parts of northwest California starting Tuesday, when persistent rain is expected to begin.
Heavy Mountain Snowfall and Rain
The low-pressure system off the Pacific Northwest coast driving this storm will begin rapidly intensifying Tuesday, reaching the threshold of a bomb cyclone, which will drastically increase its moisture and strength. Parts of northwest California can expect 4 to 8 inches of rain over several days, with some ridgetops seeing gusts up to 75 mph.
Flash Flooding and Hazardous Travel
The NWS Weather Prediction Center warned that numerous flash floods, hazardous travel, power outages, and tree damage can be expected as the storm reaches its peak intensity on Wednesday. The North Bay is forecast to see 3 to 7 inches of rain from Wednesday through Sunday, with some areas seeing up to 11 inches.
Flooding Concerns
While officials are hopeful that the region will only see minor flooding, some areas of the North Bay "will likely become saturated very quickly," said Dalton Behringer, a National Weather Service meteorologist. "Even if we don’t see too many flooding impacts Wednesday, I wouldn’t be surprised if flooding gets worse Friday with the second wave, even though less rain is expected during that time."
Southern California
Some light rain could reach Southern California by the weekend, but it likely won’t be enough to eliminate any wildfire threat through the end of the year. "It’s not going be what Northern California will be, but any bit helps," said Bryan Lewis, an National Weather Service meteorologist in Oxnard. "It’s probably not enough to get us completely out of the clear yet [for fire concerns]."
Winter Storm Watch
A winter storm watch has been issued for the Northern Sierra and other Northern California mountains above 3,500 feet, where four to 15 inches of snow is possible Tuesday and Wednesday.
Extended Wet Weather
This storm is kicking off what appears to be a stretch of wet weather across the entire state, with above-average precipitation expected to continue through at least Thanksgiving, according to the National Weather Service’s Climate Prediction Center.
Conclusion
The strongest atmospheric river to hit California in months is expected to bring heavy rain and snow to the northern half of the state this week, with possible flooding and high winds. While some areas may see minor flooding, officials are concerned about the potential for more significant flooding in the second wave of rainfall. The storm is just the beginning of a stretch of wet weather expected to continue through at least Thanksgiving.
FAQs
Q: What is an atmospheric river?
A: An atmospheric river is a long, narrow region in the atmosphere that transports large amounts of water vapor from the tropics to higher latitudes.
Q: What is a bomb cyclone?
A: A bomb cyclone is a rapidly intensifying low-pressure system that can bring strong winds and heavy precipitation.
Q: Will the storm cause significant flooding in Northern California?
A: While officials are hopeful that the region will only see minor flooding, some areas of the North Bay "will likely become saturated very quickly," and flooding could get worse in the second wave of rainfall.
Q: Will the storm eliminate any wildfire threat in Southern California?
A: No, the storm is not expected to be enough to eliminate any wildfire threat through the end of the year.
