The Sacramento Valley and the mountains are bracing for a series of storms that will bring rain, snow, wind, and possible flooding over the next week. The storms are fueled by an atmospheric river, a narrow band of moisture that originates from the Pacific Ocean and transports large amounts of water vapor to the region.
The first storm is expected to arrive on Wednesday afternoon and last until Thursday morning. It will bring moderate to heavy rain to the valley, with a quarter to half an inch of rain for most areas, and up to an inch near Redding and in the foothills. The snow level will start around 6,000 to 7,500 feet, and then drop to 5,000 feet overnight. The mountains could see 6 to 12 inches of snow above 6,000 feet, and up to 18 inches above 7,000 feet. The storm will also bring strong winds, with gusts up to 45 to 55 mph in the valley and the foothills, and up to 80 mph over the mountain ridges.
The second storm is expected to arrive on Friday afternoon and last until Saturday morning. It will bring similar amounts of rain and snow as the first storm, but with a lower snow level, around 4,000 to 5,000 feet. The winds will also be similar, with gusts up to 45 to 55 mph in the valley and the foothills, and up to 80 mph over the mountain ridges.