Flood Threat Looms

[G. Alan Ferguson]

NOTE: 13" locally

Flood Threat Looms

The graphic at the top of this article depicts the upper-air pattern that will setup by mid-late week.  Namely, a deep dip, or trough, in the jet stream will carve out over the eastern Pacific Ocean.  

This will send a parade of frontal systems and upper-level disturbances into the West Coast through this weekend.

The soaking starts Wednesday as the initial frontal system sweeps into the West Coast.  

This first system should be a quick mover.  While rain and high-mountain snow is forecast primarily for California, but also into western Oregon and parts of western Washington, precipitation amounts Wednesday should be relatively "routine", for a Pacific frontal system in the wet season.  

Then, the "atmospheric river" makes landfall.

Beginning Thursday, the upper-level pattern will begin to tap into an atmospheric river of moisture extending from just north and west of Hawaii to the West Coast.

From the Nat'l. Weather Service

Flood Watch Valid: Nov 27 at 10:43PM PST - Nov 30 at 10:00PM PST

...HEAVY RAIN MAY PRODUCE FLOODING THURSDAY AND FRIDAY... A STRONG STORM WILL BRING PERIODS OF HEAVY RAIN TO THE REGION THURSDAY THROUGH FRIDAY.  FLOODING OF CREEKS AND SMALL RIVERS IS POSSIBLE.  IN ADDITION...DEBRIS FLOWS ARE POSSIBLE ACROSS THE STEEPER MOUNTAIN TERRAIN...AND MINOR URBAN FLOODING MAY IMPACT CITY AREAS. ...FLOOD WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM THURSDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH FRIDAY EVENING... THE FLOOD WATCH CONTINUES FOR    * PORTIONS OF NORTHERN CALIFORNIA AND SOUTH CENTRAL OREGON... INCLUDING THE FOLLOWING AREAS...IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA...NORTH CENTRAL AND SOUTHEAST SISKIYOU COUNTY...SOUTH CENTRAL SISKIYOU COUNTY AND WESTERN SISKIYOU COUNTY.  IN SOUTH CENTRAL OREGON... SISKIYOU MOUNTAINS AND SOUTHERN OREGON CASCADES.   * FROM THURSDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH FRIDAY EVENING   * HEAVY RAIN WILL MOVE INTO THE REGION THURSDAY THROUGH FRIDAY WITH RAPID RISES ON AREA CREEKS...STREAMS...AND SMALL RIVERS. DEBRIS FLOWS MAY IMPACT STEEPER MOUNTAIN TERRAIN.

Additional Information

LANDSLIDES AND DEBRIS FLOWS ARE POSSIBLE DURING THIS FLOOD EVENT. PEOPLE...STRUCTURES AND ROADS LOCATED BELOW STEEP SLOPES...IN CANYONS AND NEAR THE MOUTHS OF CANYONS MAY BE A SERIOUS RISK FROM RAPIDLY MOVING LANDSLIDES.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.

PREPAREDNESS TIP:  In previous years, events such as this have killed people driving when they tried to drive through water across a roadway, in one case an entire family of 5.  If you must drive, slow down to allow more time to react to emergencies.  And remember, lights on when wipers on.

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