As I mentioned in a previous blog entry, the weather pattern is becoming energized along the Pacific Coast of the United States. You can see in the first satellite loop below the first of many storm systems. It's currently bringing clouds and showers to central and northern California.
Another system will pass California Friday into Saturday. As expected, most of the energy will stay north of our area, though we could get a brief shower early Saturday morning (40%).
I'm keeping a close eye on the system afterwards, because is could be impressive. During this time of the year, it's important to monitor water vapor and its transport northward from the tropics. This connection to moisture can bring copious amounts of rainfall to California (ala the "Pineapple Express" or the technical term "Atmospheric River").
The second satellite loop below allows us to see these plumes of moisture as they migrate northward from the equator. I'll be watching this closely in the coming days.
Computer forecasts show a strong moisture plume arriving in Central and Northern California on Sunday as a powerful system approaches. You can see it on the third map below (indicated by the yellow and orange).
Unfortunately, that moisture lessens as the front passes Southern California, which decreases our rainfall totals. Regardless, we should see some showers and isolated downpours pass the area late Monday into early Tuesday (70%). This is still far into the future, so there could be some adjustments to the timing of the rainfall.
I've posted the computer projected accumulation of rainfall and snowfall through next Tuesday (last two maps). These show significant rainfall in Central and Northern California in the coming days. It also shows higher elevations in the Sierras getting a few feet of snow!
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| The first of many storm systems is currently moving through Northern California today. |
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| The red and yellow shades indicate heavy moisture migrating northwards. |
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| Moisture plume being pushed into Northern California on Sunday. |
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| The moisture plume weakens when it moves into our area on Monday. |
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| Computer projected rain accumulation through next Tuesday. |
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| Computer projected snow accumulation through next Tuesday. |
