Atmospheric river to bring two dangerous storms to California
Written by ABC Audio All Rights Reserved on January 31, 2024
(LOS ANGELES) — A powerful Pacific jet stream is bringing two dangerous storms fueled by an atmospheric river to the West Coast, the first of which arrives on Wednesday.
This first storm is bringing a “significant threat to the safety of Californians,” Brian Ferguson, spokesman for the state’s Office of Emergency Operations Services, warned Wednesday.
The rain reached the San Francisco Bay area on Wednesday. It’ll grow heavier throughout the day and will likely be at its heaviest around 7 p.m.
Rain totals could reach 6 inches in Northern California, according to National Weather Service meteorologist Robert Hart.
Flash flooding, mudslides and strong winds are possible.
The rain starts in Los Angeles Wednesday night into Thursday morning, with the heaviest rain falling on Thursday morning. Flash flooding, mudslides and rock slides are possible.
The heavy rain and potential flash flooding will reach San Diego later on Thursday morning.
The Sierra Nevada mountain range could see 1 to 3 feet of snow while mountains in Southern California could get 1 to 2 feet of snow.
Some of this Pacific atmospheric energy moves into the Rockies Thursday afternoon into Friday, dropping heavy snow in Utah, Colorado and New Mexico.
The second storm will hit California on Sunday, bringing even more heavy rain and strong winds from San Francisco to Los Angeles.
This storm may stall off the coast, pummeling California with rain through Thursday.
Flooding and mudslides are a significant threat for Southern California.
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