active weather for spring break

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN SACRAMENTO HAS ISSUED AN

* URBAN AND SMALL STREAM FLOOD ADVISORY FOR RAPID RIVER RISES OVER
THE EASTERN PORTION OF THE CENTRAL VALLEY AND THE WEST SLOPES OF THE
SIERRA NEVADA BELOW 5500 FEET...
MUD AND DEBRIS SLIDES ACROSS THE WEST SLOPES OF THE SIERRA NEVADA...

* UNTIL 900 AM PDT

* WEATHER RADAR CONTINUES TO INDICATE MODERATE TO HEAVY
PRECIPITATION OVER THE EASTERN VALLEY AND THE WEST SLOPE OF THE
SIERRA NEVADA SOUTHWARD OF THE FEATHER RIVER CANYON AND HIGHWAY 70.
THE SATURATED SOIL IS FAVORABLE FOR MUD AND DEBRIS FLOWS. CHP HAS
ALREADY REPORTED SEVERAL INSTANCES OF MUD AND DEBRIS OVER ROADWAYS
IN THE FOOTHILLS.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

EXCESSIVE RUNOFF FROM HEAVY RAINFALL WILL CAUSE ELEVATED LEVELS ON
SMALL CREEKS AND STREAMS...AND PONDING OF WATER ON COUNTRY ROADS AND
FARMLAND ALONG THE BANKS OF CREEKS AND STREAMS.

DO NOT UNDERESTIMATE THE POWER OF FLOOD WATERS. ONLY A FEW INCHES OF
RAPIDLY FLOWING WATER CAN QUICKLY CARRY AWAY YOUR VEHICLE. THE RAIN
MAY GENERATE MUD AND DEBRIS FLOWS...EVEN AFTER THE RAIN HAS SUBSIDED.

The weather has been fairly active the past three days here in Northern California. Chico has received over an inch of rain since Sunday afternoon. Winds have been gusty from the south for the past three days, and will continue to be so as several storms roll in off the Pacific. The next storm is expected to arrive late tomorrow and last through late Friday. This will be a warm storm, so expect high elevation snow levels, mainly around 5000 to 6000 feet. Moderate to heavy rain is expected over the Sacramento Valley, and mudslides may persist in the nearby foothills (including where I live). Watch for rising waters in creeks and streams in the area. If you live near one, prepare to evacuate. So much for a nice spring break- many activities will need to be indoors for the rest of this week. Hopefully the rain will ease to just nuisance showers by this weekend, but these showers are forecasted to last into next week. Temperatures for Chico will mainly be in the 50s and lower 60s for highs, while lows will be in the 40s. I was hoping to make it to Table Mountain this week to check out the beautiful wildflowers, as they normally peak about this time of year. With this miserable weather, perhaps not. Stay safe!