CNN
 — 

A robust winter storm system will strengthen over the Pacific, bringing damaging winds, rain, and heavy mountain snow to an already soaked California starting Monday evening.

“Previous storms have saturated soils which is able to lead to timber coming down and the potential for extra energy outages,” Nationwide Climate Service San Francisco meteorologist Roger Grass informed CNN.

In a median winter, such a atmospheric river storm would convey helpful precipitation to the area. However given the unprecedented quantity of rain and snow California has already obtained this winter, the storm will solely exacerbate flooding points, convey down weakened timber and add extra snow to already document ranges.

A lot of northern California is forecast to select up 1-2 inches of rain, together with the Bay Space, with remoted areas of upper rainfall.

Although the totals could not appear very excessive, many places are already experiencing their prime 10 wettest Marches on document.

“We nonetheless have highway closures within the mountainous areas due to the sheer variety of landslide and rockslides since now we have been impacted by so many storm programs,” Grass mentioned.

Greater than eight million individuals alongside the central California coast are below a slight, Degree 2 of 4, danger of extreme rainfall on Tuesday, renewing the specter of flash flooding.

The heaviest precipitation is anticipated to unfold throughout the state Tuesday with regular rain within the valleys and coastal communities.

Cities like Oakland, Monterey, and Large Sur are on monitor to hit their prime three wettest Marches on document by the top of this week.

The impacts of this storm are additional difficult by sturdy winds.

“Saturated soils plus winds makes it even simpler for downed timber and energy outages to happen,” the San Francisco climate service mentioned.

Greater than 15 million persons are below a wind advisory in California and Oregon with gusts anticipated between 45 and 55 mph on Tuesday.

Due to the sturdy winds, close to whiteout circumstances are doable in components of northern California close to Mt. Shasta the place 1 to three ft of snow might fall. Winter storm warnings are already in impact for this area and different components of California by means of Wednesday.

The Sacramento climate service workplace requires “main mountain journey impacts” in components of northern and central California. As much as 4 ft of snow and wind gusts as much as 60 mph are doable over the Sierra Nevada, resulting in tough journey circumstances.

Statewide, the snowpack in California for the Sierras is presently at 228% of its regular quantity for this time of 12 months and this storm will solely enhance that margin. The Southern Sierras particularly have reached document ranges, whereas the Central Sierra doubtless will by the top of the winter season.