After a cooler and cloudier day, the first of a set of atmospheric rivers will bring widespread rainfall over a period of several hours tonight. Rain showers will begin to arrive in the early evening on the Central Coast, but the frontal band will arrive around 10:00 pm. It will pass through our region overnight, so that some heavy showers may linger during the early morning commute in Ventura County.
Throughout Thursday, showers will be off and on. There is a slight chance of thunderstorms, at which times rainfall could be heavy. Light rain showers may even pop up here and there into Friday.
In total with our first system, we are expecting 1 to 3 inches of rain in coastal areas, and 4 to 5 inches of rain in foothills and mountains. Totals will be highest on south and southwest-facing slopes because of enhancement from the wind.
There is a chance of minor flooding of roadways, or near creeks and coastal areas, with this first storm. If you see flooding, never drive through it.
There is a winter storm warning in the northern Ventura County mountains and a winter weather advisory in the southern Ventura County mountains. Both run from midnight to 4:00 pm Thursday. Snow levels will start around 7,000 feet and fall to 5,500 feet by Thursday afternoon. We expect up to 18 inches of snow above 7,000 feet, up to 6 inches above 6,000 feet, and up to 3 inches above 4,500 feet.