Tropical Moisture from the Pacific Ocean Set to Douse California

Posted: November 14, 2023 9:00 am

The state of California is finally going to get in on some of the moisture that has been impacting the rest of the West in recent weeks. A storm system is set to move down from the Gulf of Alaska late next week, bringing the chance of heavy rain along the coastal and valley areas and snow for the higher terrains. Here is what you need to know about this upcoming weather maker.

Long-Lived Storm System Gearing Up to Hit California

The brewing storm could linger across the Golden State for several days, making it the first major storm system of the season for the region. This is the same storm that delivered a significant dose of heavy snow to Anchorage, Alaska this week.

The Pacific Northwest has already picked up a good amount of moisture since the beginning of November. For instance, Portland has seen rain fall across the city in nine out of 10 days this month, coming to a total of over 4 inches. More precipitation for the region this week is already adding to this total.

Although these bands of moisture have remained in Washington and Oregon lately, that is going to change next week when the storm track takes a dive to the south. California can expect to see rain on Monday or Tuesday in the northern part of the state before it expands farther. This means that cities such as San Francisco will be one of the first areas to pick up some rain.

In addition to the storm moving down from Alaska, a plume of moisture is forecast to come on shore from the tropical Pacific by Tuesday. This will enhance the overall rainfall amounts for the state while also bringing in gusty winds for the coastal areas.

It has been a long time since the San Francisco Bay Area has picked up rain for three consecutive days. However, forecasters are predicting that this metropolitan area will likely see three straight days of measurable precipitation beginning on Tuesday and lasting through Thursday.

Storm Forecast to Slow and Stall

Part of the reason for the long-lasting moisture is that the storm is predicted to stall when it reaches the West Coast. This would set up the chance of ongoing moisture to continue to filter in from the Pacific Ocean. This pattern would also work to reduce the amount of rain and snow that is generated moving inland, meaning that the coastal areas will take the brunt of this weather pattern.

The active storm track may also bring beneficial moisture to Southern California by the end of next week. This pattern will be supported by an area of low pressure that is setting up over the area. It has been about six weeks since Los Angeles has recorded any measurable rainfall. Additionally, the City of Angels has only seen 0.05 of an inch of rain since August 22, translating to just 6% of the historical average during this time period.

Will the Sierra Nevada Finally See Snow?

Winter sports enthusiasts have been eyeing the forecast for the Sierra Nevada, hoping for measurable snowfall. This anticipated snow is likely to fall later next week as the weather makes its journey inland. Only a few inches of snow are currently covering the top terrains of the Sierra.

The storm system may extend far enough to hit the interior portions of the West, delivering good news for ski resorts that are anxious to get the season started. However, forecasters caution that this system could move far enough to the south that the mountain ranges miss out on any significant accumulation.

Wildfire Season Coming to an End

It has been a mild wildfire season for California and the rest of the West thanks to an exceptionally wet winter and spring for the region. According to the latest report from CalFire, only about 319,000 acres have been scorched in the state this season, equating to the lowest figure since 2019.

Forecasters are predicting that this latest blast of rain and snow will effectively put the lid on the fire season for the year.

How long will this plume of moisture stick around? The long-range forecast is calling for the rain and snow chances to linger through late next week and into the weekend. The slow movement of this storm system will keep many communities in the bullseye for days.

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