LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – With Northern California having just come through a series of storms bringing snow and rain, forecasters are predicting more heavy weather ahead for the weekend.
The National Weather Service said an “atmospheric river” will bring more rain and high-elevation snow beginning on Saturday, which rainfall and snowfall expected to be heaviest across the region on Sunday and Monday.
Atmospheric rivers are narrow regions on the atmosphere that transport most of the water vapor outside of the tropics, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
Forecasters said it will be a once in a five- to 10-year storm for areas near or north of I-80 and a once in a 10- to 25-year storm for areas south of I-80, with some areas of the North State to experience flooding of rivers such as last occurred in December 2005.
In the Sierras, precipitation levels are expected to be twice January's monthly average, the National Weather Service reported.
The National Weather Service issued a winter storm watch for parts of the region, including the northern third of Lake County, that's in effect from late Friday night through Saturday evening.
Areas of the Coastal Range about 5,000 feet are expected to see moderate to heavy snowfall of 8 to 10 inches during that time period the winter storm watch is in place, the National Weather Service said.
Elevations between 3,500 and 5,000 feet are expected to receive 3 to 6 inches of now, the agency said.
The specific Lake County forecast calls for showers to return on Friday and continue through to Wednesday, which chances of snow on Saturday and Sunday north of Upper Lake.
The recent rains have local streams running high, which has contributed to Clear Lake's level, now at almost three times its depth at this time last year.
On Wednesday evening, the lake was at nearly 3.90 feet Rumsey, the special measure used just for Clear Lake. That's compared to 1.36 feet Rumsey on the same date a year ago, 2.5 feet Rumsey on Jan. 4, 2015, and 5.1 feet Rumsey reported on Jan. 4, 2014.
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'Atmospheric river' forecast to hit Northern California this weekend
- Elizabeth Larson
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