Storm Moving Down the West Coast Into California by Early Next Week

Posted: March 24, 2023 1:11 pm

While the state of California can catch a breather over the weekend, yet another storm system is set to crash into the region by early next week. This particular weather maker will bring more heavy rain and snow to the Golden State. Read on for more information about the timing of this weather maker.

Storm Builds in Alaska and Moves Down Coast

The energy associated with this incoming system is currently moving in from Alaska and down the West Coast. This energy will merge with an area of rich moisture over the Pacific Ocean some time this weekend as it continues its journey down the coast and into California. Forecasters are predicting that California will begin to see the impacts of this storm on Monday with it lingering through Wednesday.

The good news is that this upcoming storm will skirt the coast of California rather than pusher deeper inland. This track will mitigate some of the impacts when compared to previous systems. However, forecasters caution that this storm will still pack enough of a punch to bring heavy rain paired with mountain snow and high winds.

There is no doubt that this has been an especially stormy and dreary March in California. In addition to the mass amounts of precipitation, the month has also featured temperatures that were colder than average for this time of the year. These cooler readings have promoted the development of heavy snow.

Northern and Central California Expecting Greatest Impacts

Southern California will also likely dodge the worst of the approaching storm. This part of the state was hit particularly hard last week. Instead, it will be the northern and central parts of the state that take on the majority of the snow, winds, and rain next week.

It will be another wet start to the week in the San Francisco area. The Bay Area could see another inch of rain on Monday through Tuesday. To the east, you can expect snowfall measured in feet for many spots in the Sierra Nevada.

While Southern California will escape significant precipitation, the cities and suburbs of San Diego and Los Angeles may see light rain showers beginning Tuesday morning and lasting through Wednesday. While this will certainly make for a dreary few days for spring breakers in the region, it will still be more manageable than the inches of rain that fell during the last few weather events.

Like its predecessors, this weather maker will trigger a host of travel delays throughout the state. Flooded roadways are a possibility stretching from the Bay Area down into the coastal areas of Central California. Low snow levels are also a possibility in Southern California.

There are some silver linings found in this recent parade of storms. Ski resorts across the Sierra Nevada are spreading the welcome news that the season will extend longer than normal thanks to the deep snowpack currently in place.

The intense moisture has also almost completely erased the drought in some parts of the state. According to the last round of data from the U.S. Drought Monitor, only 36% of the state is under a designation of drought. This is a stark contrast from the almost 98% that was experiencing a drought prior to the stormy season.

Relief from the storms is in the forecast when the calendar flips from March to April. Some long-range forecasts even predict that Central and Southern California will see rain that is below average for the month of April. The storm track during the upcoming month is predicted to stay in the northern part of the state as a result of high pressure anchored over the Southwest.

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