A month’s worth of rain and mountain snow could fall across California as two storms line up for the state, starting this weekend. The first will arrive Sunday into Monday, with another possible by midweek, increasing the risk of travel disruptions.
Rain will spread over the state, starting in northwestern California on Saturday night and becoming more widespread from Sunday to Monday. In the Siskiyou and Sierra Nevada, heavy snow will fall.
The heaviest and steadiest rain in San Francisco will be from late Sunday through Sunday night and into Monday, when a few inches may fall, enough to cause flooding in poor-drainage areas and minor debris flows. San Francisco typically receives just under 4 inches of rain during all of February.
Farther south, «the commutes on Monday could be nasty in Los Angeles, especially lunchtime and the afternoon,» AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Heather Zehr said. Rain will become heavy at times on Monday, with the heaviest rain reaching San Diego during the afternoon and evening on Monday.
Enough rain will fall in coastal Southern California to cause flooding on streets and highways that drain poorly. There will be a risk of mudslides and other debris flows.
Sacramento and Palm Springs, California, will also receive significant rainfall.
Freezing levels will reach well down below the passes in Northern California so that a major snowfall occurs over the higher elevations. Along Interstate 80 through the Sierra Nevada, a general 2-4 feet of snow will fall, with the high potential for Donner Pass to close for a time from late Sunday night to Monday night.