Sunday Afternoon National Highlights: More Wind and Rain for Northern California

I loved when JB Elliott, our late mentor and friend, used to use NOAA Weatheradio on fair weather days to highlight interesting weather going on in other parts of the country. Here are a few notes from around the Fruited Plain:

…A major storm is set to impact Northern California with another “atmospheric river” event. It will bring heavy rain and mountain snows along with more strong winds. The strongest winds will affect the area Monday evening, while Monday through Tuesday will be the rainiest and snowiest.

…The area is saturated from heavy precipitation that has been falling since early January. Flood watches are in effect for the coastal plain and coastal ranges of Northern California and huge areal flood warnings are still in effect for interior sections of Northern California. Flooding may occur in places that have not seen flooding for a very long time.

…The system that brought all the bad weather to California on Friday continues to weaken as it moves westward. Heavy snow will be possible over the higher elevations of the Sawtooths, the Mogollon Rim of Arizona and the Southwest and Central Rockies including the San Juan Mountains around Telluride, where 4-8 inches of snow is expected. Some of the best storm totals have been over Southeast Arizona, where 10-16 inches has fallen over the White Mountains.

…The SPC has expanded their slight risk for Central Texas into southern Oklahoma. A severe thunderstorm watch is being considered for North Texas and southern Oklahoma, including the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex. Hail and a few tornadoes are the main threats.

…Much of the country east of the Rockies is way above normal temperature wise. The biggest anomalies are over the Midwest, including Iowa, where readings are some 25+ degrees above normal. It is 72F in Des Moines at 2 p.m.

…Flash flood watches are already posted for southeastern Texas, including the Houston area. Over three inches of rain is expected to fall there.

Category: Headlines