A powerful storm is set to hit Northern California and the Pacific Northwest. The region will face heavy rains and strong winds, which could lead to power outages and flash floods. The Weather Prediction Center has issued warnings for excessive rainfall, starting Tuesday and lasting through Friday. This storm marks the strongest atmospheric river of the season.
The storm intensified rapidly, transforming into a “bomb cyclone,” explained Richard Bann, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service. The heaviest rainfall will likely hit areas from south of Portland, Oregon, to the north of San Francisco.
“Flash flooding is a risk at lower elevations, while winter storms will impact higher ground,” Bann said. In the San Francisco Bay Area, up to eight inches of rain are expected in some areas. The northern Sierra Nevada could receive up to 15 inches of snow over two days. Winds could gust up to 120 kilometers per hour in mountain regions. The Weather Prediction Center also warned of flash floods, hazardous travel, power outages, and tree damage, especially by Wednesday.
In Yolo County, teams worked on Monday to clear culverts and drainage ditches to prevent street flooding. Local resident Mesena Pimentel hopes these efforts will prevent a repeat of last February’s floods. “We had about ten inches of water in our garage, with a couple of gophers swimming around,” she said. Woodland city officials are handing out free sandbags to residents. Authorities urged people to stock up on food and charge their electronics in case of power outages or road closures.
Meanwhile, Southern California will experience dry conditions, with gusty Santa Ana winds raising the wildfire risk. The Mountain Fire, which broke out on November 6 in Ventura County, is now 98% contained. Firefighters face continued challenges from the winds, but conditions should calm by the week’s end. Rain is expected in the greater Los Angeles area soon after.
