Northern California is on alert as an atmospheric river threatens to unleash heavy rain later this week, the National Weather Service (NWS) warned Sunday.
“Rainfall chances increase beginning Wednesday and last into the weekend as a rather impressive system sets up,” NWS officials stated.
The North Bay could bear the storm’s brunt, though impacts may shift closer to the San Francisco Bay Area. Coastal cities might see over 10 inches of rain, while San Francisco and Oakland are forecast to receive one to four inches, according to NOAA.
Atmospheric rivers, powerful streams of water vapor from the tropics, can cause flooding, downed trees, and power outages, as seen in the devastating 2019 event that paralyzed the Bay Area.
Residents are urged to prepare for potential disruptions.