Several weather alerts are in place for millions of people in California as National Weather Service (NWS) meteorologists warn of storms throughout the week.
AccuWeather senior meteorologist Heather Zehr told Newsweek that some showers could begin as early as Monday in Northern California before spreading southward on Monday night.
Why It Matters
California’s wet season begins in October, and the state has already seen several storms as cooler weather takes hold. An atmospheric river has dumped plenty of rain on the northern part of the state in October, and Southern California also saw rain and thunderstorms this fall.
The incoming storm will continue the wet pattern, prompting NWS offices in the region to issue warnings for the expected winds, heavy rain, and coastal impacts.
What to Know
On Monday, weather alerts such as coastal flood and wind advisories, high wind watches, high surf advisories and others were in place for millions across Central and Northern California, including Sacramento and Oakland.
Most advisories were set to go into effect on Tuesday when stormy weather reaches the Golden State.
“Late Tuesday into Wednesday, a strong cyclone in the northeast Pacific reinforces the existing front and causes breezy to windy conditions to renew from northern California northward and brings the potential for heavier rains,” the NWS said in a Friday forecast.
AccuWeather also warned of strong winds and heavy rain.
Rain is expected from Central California northward through all of Washington state and part of Idaho beginning on Tuesday night and persisting into Wednesday. The heaviest rainfall amounts will be along the coast for California, Oregon, and Washington, as well as in mountainous regions, some of which could see up to 4 inches of rain throughout the storm’s duration.
The stormy pattern will continue for the next week or so.
“The persistent Gulf of Alaska trough will lead to more wet weather in the Northwest and Northern California going through the middle of November. There is a sign of a pattern change to dry and warmer weather heading into the week of Thanksgiving to early December,” AccuWeather senior meteorologist Chad Merrill said in the report.
The next sizable storm for the Pacific Northwest following this one will hit Oregon and Washington on Thursday, Zehr told Newsweek.
What People Are Saying
NWS San Francisco in a wind advisory: “Gusty winds will blow around unsecured objects. Tree limbs could be blown down and a few power outages may result. … Isolated gusts to 55 mph possible along North Bay coastal areas and ridgetops Wednesday morning as the cold front passes through. … Winds this strong can make driving difficult, especially for high profile vehicles. Use extra caution. Secure loose outdoor objects that could be blown around or damaged by the wind.”
Merrill said in an AccuWeather report: “The next atmospheric river [starting midweek] heading for the Northwest and Northern California is reminiscent of the one that impacted the region from Oct. 24-26, when places like Eureka, California, and Portland, Oregon, tallied more than 1.50 inches of rain.”
What Happens Next
Stormy weather will begin in California on Tuesday night. This storm will persist through Wednesday night, but the pattern could continue throughout the first half of November. People living in the impacted regions should be storm aware and follow the guidance of local weather officials.