Huge Storm Hitting NorCal

from Mendocino County Office of Emergency Services -

Overview

A major shift in the weather pattern will bring wet and windy weather to all of Northern and Central California beginning midweek and lasting through the weekend and into the beginning of next week. Heavy precipitation is expected across northern portions of the state with high rainfall rates first on Wednesday then again on Friday into Saturday. Urban and small stream flooding will be common, even extending into central California. Regarding main stem rivers, this event will be the largest of the season to date, and rapid rises on some rivers can be expected, but for the most part remain below levels of serious concern. Meanwhile...mud and debris flows are possible...especially near areas burned during recent wildfires.

Flood control reservoirs are all in excellent shape with storage's well below the "top of conservation" managed by the USACE. See http://cdec.water.ca.gov/cdecapp/resapp/GetDailyFCgraphs.action for a nice graphic on reservoir flood control space. Bottom line: "There is plenty of room in the flood control reservoirs."

Rain and gusty winds are expected in southern California but to a lesser degree.


One of the biggest concerns revolves around what comes next. This storm sequence should wet basins down pretty well, making subsequent events much more effective, and the long-range guidance suggests that the storm door is remaining open.


TIMING

· Beginning Wednesday

· Most intense Thursday through Friday night

· Ending late Sunday/Monday.

· Pattern remains unsettled through next week


HEAVY RAIN STORM TOTAL AMOUNTS

· Northwest Coast 5 to 10" rain with 12 to 16" rain upslope prone areas

· Mountains 4 to 14" rain heaviest Lassen Park and Shasta County (snow above 7,000 feet)

· Foothills 6 to 12" rain heaviest Feather River Basin and Shasta County Foothills

· Valley Floor 4 to 7" rain northern half Sacramento Valley and 1 to 4" elsewhere extending south into Central California

· Southern Mountains 1 to 2" rain with lesser amounts at lower elevations


WIND POTENTIAL

· Strongest winds Thursday Through Saturday

· Mountains Southerly 25 to 50 gusting to 60 MPH

· Foothills Southerly 25 to 35 gusting to 50 MPH

· Valley Floor Southerly 25 to 35 gusting to 45 MPH (including those east of the Sierra such as the Owens Valley)

· Ocean Southerly 25 to 35 gusting to over 50KTS


IMPACTS


· Mud and debris flows likely around burn scarred areas (Shasta, Butte, and Plumas Co's)

· Local power outages due to downed limbs and trees

· Flooding of poorly drained areas...including streets and highways during intense rainfall

· Smaller, unregulated streams will see rapid rises and local flooding is expected

· Main stem river rises beginning Thursday

· Wind generated ocean swells 5 to 8 feet and surf 6 to 10 feet on west facing south coastal areas

And me and the Mrs are staying at a hotel on the cliff at Noyo Harbor.
Bugging out in the morning Wednesday.



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Hatches are battened!!  time to make plans for the "CALM" after this storm.

Sounds like sturgeon bite should improve couple days after storm

best get on the roof and clean out the gutters and drains boys! 

looks like xmas light hanging gets delayed until next week.      

Russian river is gonna be a mess All the fires upstream. Debris flows like last time some 4-5 years ago? Be careful up there...

Herring......

Bring on the storm! The more rain this winter the better the fishing next year is.

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it was supposed to be my last weekend of freedom before the wife and little one come home - i was originally taking friday off but now i'll be doing christmas decorations instead.

Local steelhead season opens Dec 1st so it makes perfect sense. Of course there's a big storm coming!

Bring on the storm! The more rain this winter the better the fishing next year is.

Cheers to that.

best get on the roof and clean out the gutters and drains boys! 

looks like xmas light hanging gets delayed until next week.      

Yeah I'm gettin things prepped for teh upcoming storms too.....new line for my sturgeon rods and the snowboards are comin out of their coffin for a tune up.  Love me some winter!

Duck season will finally be here!!!!!

Russian river is gonna be a mess

yeah this is going to blow the russian out till march, no one should come up to fish because it will me a muddy mess and will blow all the fish back into the ocean, until at least june, 

Duck season will finally be here!!!!!

Oh yea!

Mushrooms!!!