update on the latest storm

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN SACRAMENTO HAS ISSUED A * FLOOD WATCH FOR A PORTION OF NORTHERN CALIFORNIA...INCLUDING THE FOLLOWING AREAS...CENTRAL SACRAMENTO VALLEY AND NORTHERN SACRAMENTO VALLEY. * FROM 4 PM PST THIS AFTERNOON THROUGH MONDAY AFTERNOON * FLOODING WILL REMAIN POSSIBLE AROUND LOW LYING AREAS NEAR THE UPPER SACRAMENTO RIVER...ESPECIALLY AROUND RED BLUFF THROUGH MONDAY. SOME CREEKS THAT MAY EXPERIENCE CONTINUED FLOODING INCLUDE COW CREEK...COTTONWOOD CREEK...BATTLE CREEK...CLEAR CREEK...DRY CREEK...BUTTE CREEK. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... A FLOOD WATCH MEANS THERE IS A POTENTIAL FOR FLOODING BASED ON CURRENT FORECASTS. YOU SHOULD MONITOR LATER FORECASTS AND BE ALERT FOR POSSIBLE FLOOD WARNINGS. THOSE LIVING IN AREAS PRONE TO FLOODING SHOULD BE PREPARED TO TAKE ACTION SHOULD FLOODING DEVELOP. In addition, there is a Small Stream and Urban Flood Advisory until 10:30 am this morning for Chico and all of Butte County for the potential of street flooding. Also, three bodies of water flow through Chico: Big Chico Creek, Little Chico Creek, and Lindo Channel. Of course, Lindo Channel is a human-made bypass for Big Chico Creek's excessive runoff, but even Lindo Channel is nearly overflowing at this time. Many homes and neighborhoods are adjacent to Lindo Channel and both Big and Little Chico Creek. Be ready to move if you see the water begin to rise. Heavy rain has inundated our area since last evening. So far at the time of this blog posting, Chico has received nearly two inches of rain since yesterday evening, with more coming. At my house in the foothills east of Chico, elevation 1500 feet, my rain gauge has measured nearly 4 inches of rain in the past 24 hours. The rain should taper to showers this morning, and the showers should end by later this afternoon. Be safe out there!