A powerful storm is currently hitting the West Coast, bringing heavy rain and snow for several days. The storm is classified as a Level 4 atmospheric river, which means it has the potential to cause significant disruptions like travel delays, dangerous conditions, and the risk of mudslides and landslides.
This storm, called a “Pineapple Express,” is coming from the Pacific Ocean near Hawaii and has already brought intense rain to Northern California, where some areas have seen over 14 inches of rain since Friday. More rain is expected to continue through Thursday, triggering flood warnings in several areas.
While Northern California is getting heavy rain, places like the Pacific Northwest are experiencing colder temperatures, which could bring snow to lower elevations. Seattle, a city where snow is not very common, is getting some snowfall, which is exciting for residents. Northern California is expected to get 3-8 inches of rain, including in major cities like San Francisco, Sacramento, and Redding, with flash flooding most likely on Tuesday.
San Francisco has only recorded 0.13 inches of rain so far this month, far below the usual 3.9 inches. Redding has also had much less rain than expected. On Sunday, a man in Redding was rescued after getting stranded on an island in Clear Creek. Fortunately, he was unharmed.
In the Sierra Nevada foothills, some areas may get up to 20 inches of rain, increasing the risk of mudslides and rockslides. However, there are no warnings for burn-scar flooding at the moment. Later in the week, the storm will move south and bring rain to Southern California, which is good news for firefighters trying to control wildfires in the region.
Snow levels were initially high, but colder air is arriving, and snow levels will drop. By Tuesday morning, snow levels will fall to 3,000-5,000 feet in parts of the Sierra Nevada and the southern Cascades. This will affect areas along Interstate 5 and Interstate 90, where snow could cause travel disruptions.
The Sierra Nevada could see an additional 3-4 feet of snow, which will help boost the region’s snowpack, which has been below average so far this year. This storm is critical for adding to the snowpack needed for the area.
