Rainstorms to increase flood risk across California into this weekend

By Brett Rathbun, AccuWeather.com Meteorologist

March 11,2016; 9:14PM,EST

 

 

Storms will bring additional rounds of rain and mountain snow for a large part of the West Coast through this weekend, before a change in the weather pattern steers storms north of California.
The strongest storm for Southern California will continue through Friday evening as moderate to heavy rain falls across much of the state.

"Over 0.50 of an inch of rain could fall in Los Angeles and San Diego," AccuWeather Meteorologist Ryan Adamson said.
Even a few rumbles of thunder are possible as well.

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Storms during the balance of the weekend will be mainly focused on the northern and central portions of the state. Rain will be heavy enough to increase the risk of flooding.
Over 6 inches of rain could fall across portions of northern California through the weekend.
Little, if any, rain will make it into Southern California from Saturday on.

"The storms this weekend will bring heavy snow in the central and northern Sierra Nevada," Adamson said.
Enough cold air will be present for a few feet of snow to fall in the Sierra Nevada, which will help in the availability of water during the spring and summer months.
Strong winds will be confined to the northern California coast.

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A shift in the weather pattern could not only leave Southern California dry, but northern California as well following this weekend and until the final days of March.
A strong area of high pressure is expected to reach the West Coast early next week and will hinder any storms from reaching California in general for several days.
There is the potential for storms to return in the state during the last week of March.
San Francisco and Sacramento have already received a month's worth of rain in the first week of March. However, any additional rainfall will be beneficial in combating the ongoing drought, especially following the lack of rain during February.