California’s extremely wet winter turns into a wet spring.
Another atmospheric river will hit the state on Tuesday and Wednesday, with another likely after that.
The amount of rain and the snowmelt it could bring are raising alarms about further flooding this week.
Here’s a breakdown of what you need to know:
What are officials worried about?
Heavy rain remains a major concern with the incoming system, and the National Weather Service has issued more than 40 flood watches and warnings, with the heaviest impacts expected as the system moves from the central coast into the southern foothills. of the Sierra. Flood watches have also been issued in northern California, including parts of Del Norte, Humboldt and Trinity counties.
The storm will create “extensive flooding impacts below 5,000 feet elevation across much of the California Coast and Central Valley and the southern foothills of the Sierra Nevadas,” the weather service said.
What are the areas of greatest concern?
Rivers, streams and streams in several regions are expected to overflow again – including some, such as the Cosumnes, Salinas and Russian rivers, which are still swollen from a similar storm last week.
Along the nearby Salinas River, evacuation orders and warnings remained in effect Monday for more than 10,000 people, with Monterey County officials warning of “likely flooding of roads between the Monterey Peninsula and the rest of the county” due to the impending storm.
Evacuation orders and warnings are also in effect in parts of Fresno, Merced and Tulare counties, among others, and more than 30 evacuation shelters are open across the state.
What is the forecast?
Northern California: The storm is expected to be strongest in the Bay Area overnight Monday through Tuesday, while the Central Valley and areas further inland are expected to be worst affected Tuesday afternoon through Wednesday.
Central Valley: Interior areas of particular concern are Merced County near Bear Creek as well as parts of Mariposa, Fresno, Madera and Tulare counties that will see the most rain. Up to 6 inches of rain could fall in mountainous areas reaching 7,000 feet, with up to 3 inches possible in the foothills and 1.5 inches in the San Joaquin Valley.
Southern California: Widespread rainfall is also expected in Southern California, including up to 7 inches in the mountains of southeastern Santa Barbara County and western Ventura County, with the storm’s peak expected on Tuesday. . The Ventura River could approach flood stage, and smaller creeks and creeks are expected to fill.
What is the next?
Another atmospheric river could arrive in California between March 19 and 22, and potentially another after that, state officials said.