December 10,2014
Parts of California could get rainfall totals of over 13 inches between Thursday December 11 and Thursday December 18 according to a NOAA forecast estimate.
The totals include a series of vigorous events hitting this Thursday-Friday and again Monday,Tuesday and the following Friday that could put all this in the impressive category.
Today forecaster John Lindsey in SLO said Thursday/Friday’s “total rainfall amounts are expected to range between 2 and 4 inches throughout San Luis Obispo County, with higher amounts in the Santa Lucia Mountains, Thursday afternoon into Friday morning. This system is expected to produce very heavy rain in Northern California. In fact, Some main stem rivers in Northern California are expected to reach flood stage.”
“Snow will also fall in the Sierra with snow levels starting out rather high and above 6,000 and 7,000 feet before falling rapidlyThursday to near 4,000 and 5,500 feet Thursday afternoon and night with 2- and 3-feet of snow possible above 7,000 and 8,000 feet and 1- and 2-feet between 6,000 and 7,000 feet.
Another cold front will produce moderate gale-force to fresh gale-force (32- to 46-mph) southerly winds and moderate to heavy rain on Monday into Tuesday, followed by another storm system next Friday. These system will be colder and more typical for this time of year with snow levels across the mountains and Sierra in the 3,000 and 4,000 foot level.”
In the San Joaquin Valley the NWS says the Sierra could get up to 2 feet of snow over the next few days.
