flooding potential

Lots to talk about, so let's begin. There is a fairly high probability of urban and small stream flooding this weekend in the Sacramento Valley and surrounding foothills. Winter Storm Watches are posted for both the Coast Ranges and Sierra Nevada mountains for elevations around 3500 feet through this weekend, as well. Winds could gust to 40 mph in the valley and over 50 mph in the mountains, especially on Saturday. This is all due to a strong storm dropping down from the Gulf of Alaska tapping into some moisture streaming across the Pacific Ocean. Rainfall totals between tomorrow and the middle of next week may reach five inches in the valley and six plus inches in the surrounding foothills. There is also a probability that additional storms may impact our area next week, although computer models are not in agreement as to the intensity and timing of the storms. However, if these storms do hit, additional flooding problems may occur. Keep checking back for updates. For now, here's what the National Weather Service is saying for Chico:

Tonight: A slight chance of sprinkles between 10pm and 4am, then rain after 4am. Increasing clouds, with a low around 38. Calm wind becoming east around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

Friday: Rain. High near 50. Light and variable wind. Chance of precipitation is 90%.

Friday Night: Rain. The rain could be heavy at times. Low around 43. Southeast wind 6 to 9 mph increasing to between 18 and 21 mph. Winds could gust as high as 29 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%.

Saturday: Rain. The rain could be heavy at times. High near 55. Breezy, with a south wind between 18 and 26 mph, with gusts as high as 37 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%.

Saturday Night: Rain. The rain could be heavy at times. Low around 44. South southeast wind between 13 and 20 mph, with gusts as high as 28 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%.

Sunday: Rain. The rain could be heavy at times. High near 54. Chance of precipitation is 80%.

Sunday Night: Rain likely. Cloudy, with a low around 42. Chance of precipitation is 70%.

Monday: Rain likely. Cloudy, with a high near 53.

Monday Night: Rain. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 43.

Tuesday: Rain. Cloudy, with a high near 52.

Tuesday Night: Rain likely. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 45.

Wednesday: Rain likely. Cloudy, with a high near 54.

Wednesday Night: Rain likely. Cloudy, with a low around 43.

Thursday: Rain likely. Cloudy, with a high near 53.

UPDATE: WINTER STORM WATCH UPGRADED TO WARNING

From the National Weather Service:

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN SACRAMENTO HAS ISSUED A WINTER
STORM WARNING ABOVE 4500 FEET FOR HEAVY SNOW AND GUSTY WINDS...WHICH
IS IN EFFECT FROM 1 PM FRIDAY TO 10 PM PST SUNDAY. THE WINTER
STORM WATCH IS NO LONGER IN EFFECT.

* SNOW ACCUMULATIONS: 2 TO 4 FEET OF SNOW OVER THE HIGHER
ELEVATIONS OF WESTERN PLUMAS COUNTY AND LASSEN PARK FROM FRIDAY
THROUGH SUNDAY AFTERNOON.

* ELEVATION: ABOVE 4500 FEET

* TIMING: LIGHT PRECIPITATION IS EXPECTED FRIDAY WITH HEAVIER
SNOW FRIDAY NIGHT THROUGH SUNDAY.

* LOCATIONS INCLUDE: CHESTER

* WINDS: SOUTHWEST 10 TO 20 MPH WITH GUSTS OCCASIONALLY UP TO
40 TO 50 MPH...LOCALLY UP TO 65 MPH OVER THE LASSEN PARK
AREA.

* IMPACTS: CHAIN CONTROLS OR CLOSURES HIGHWAYS 89 AND 36.