Accuweather is also painting a grim picture for snowfall amounts in the Central and Northern California mountains, with the higher elevations receiving from three to five feet of snow. Because the inbound storm is heading directly for those mountains, meteorologists expect the highest precipitation amounts on the slopes of the mountains facing the storm, and flooding in the rivers and streams beneath them in the Central Valley area of California. Accuweather also does not expect much relief for the California flooding until possibly Thursday, as the storm will push onshore throughout the day on Wednesday. California could also see more rain in the coming weekend as a third system works its way onshore. The National Weather Service advises any residents living near a small river or stream to monitor it and evaluate their flood risk in the event they should need to evacuate.
The string of storms and the flooding are a function of what is known as an “atmospheric river.” This condition in the atmosphere allows moisture to travel from as far away as Hawaii, before being released over California and the West Coast. Its results can be catastrophic flooding, but also a serious blizzard. Scott McGuire, a Reno-based forecaster for the National Weather Service, says that travel in the mountains is unwise, characterizing the storm as a “life-threatening situation.”
