How Do You Spell Relief For Northern California

[stan]

Thirsty, drought-suffering Californians will get just what they desperately need the next few days from a lumbering Pacific low headed slowly inland. The first to bear the brunt of this approaching storm tonight through Sunday will be Northern California?s Siskiyous and Coastal Ranges, the area in the most severe drought right now.

Winter storm warnings have been hoisted for these areas through Sunday afternoon above 2500 feet, including Mt. Shasta, where a couple of feet of snow may pile up by Sunday evening. Ironically in this drought-stricken area, below 2500 feet, heavy rain may trigger local flash flooding and mudslides through Sunday night, particularly north of the Bay Area.

High wind warnings were also posted for the Santa Cruz Mountains northward to the East Bay hills, where south winds may gust to 60 mph, at times, as the storm pulls toward the coast tonight into Sunday morning.

This front may temporarily stall over Northern California during the day Sunday, bringing periods of heavy precipitation from the central coast northward into the Sierra and Siskiyous. Burn areas of the Santa Cruz Mountains and the Big Sur may see some mudslides or debris flows, as the heaviest rainfall near the Bay Area targets southwest facing mountain slopes. From 1-2? of rain is expected in San Francisco, Oakland, and San Jose.

Monday, this storm?s heaviest rain and mountain snow will take aim on Southern California and the southern Sierra. From 1-3? of rain can be expected in coastal and valley locations of Southern California. Flash flooding, is a very real threat, particularly in burn areas. Mudslides and debris flows may occur. Heavy snow on the order of 1-2 feet may make travel difficult by Monday afternoon and evening in the Southland mountains.

Elsewhere, lighter snow and rain will dampen parts of the Pacific Northwest. Snow levels may be as low as 1000-1500 feet in the Columbia River Basin of eastern Washington and northeast Oregon.

South | View Regional Video

If this wasn?t a Valentine?s Day weekend, punctuated by one of NASCAR?s biggest events of the year, perhaps the soaking Gulf Coast rain may be thought of in a more positive light.

After all, much of this region needs the rain. Moderate drought has spread from Texas along the I-10 corridor as far east as Pensacola, Fla. Moderate drought also covers parts of central and south Florida, including Tampa/St. Petersburg and Miami.

The first round of rain dumped almost 4? in New Orleans, which was their heaviest rain event in almost 6 weeks. Street flooding was reported in Waveland, Miss.

Now, a second disturbance riding the subtropical jet stream will reactivate this rainy zone through Sunday from the Upper Texas Coast to Florida. Rainfall amounts from 1 to 2?, with locally higher amounts, can be expected from southern Louisiana to northern Florida.

Unfortunately, this also includes Daytona International Speedway, site of Sunday?s Daytona 500. While rain spared the Nationwide race Saturday, this aforementioned second wave of rain looks poised to disrupt Sunday?s festivities.

Unfortunately, little rain can be expected in the most dire drought areas both in Texas and in Upstate South Carolina and western North Carolina.

That said, some light snow may fall Sunday evening into Monday morning in parts of the Carolinas and southern Virginia. Any accumulations at this time, on the order of a dusting to an inch, look most likely in the Smoky Mountains.

Midwest | View Regional Video

Cold high pressure will exert its will over much of the nation?s mid-section rounding out the Valentine?s Day weekend.

Memories of the record warmth from earlier this week will be just that?memories. Highs Sunday will remain stuck in the teens in North Dakota and northern Minnesota. Twenty degrees will be all the mercury can climb to in the Twin Cities. Thirties will chill those in Indianapolis and St. Louis.

An area of light snow will slowly spread across North Dakota and northern Minnesota Sunday, eventually blanketing parts of northern Wisconsin and Michigan?s Upper Peninsula Monday.

A more significant snowstorm may take aim on the Upper Midwest and Great Lakes Tuesday night into Wednesday.

Northeast | View Regional Video

Other than a straggling area of leftover light snow in northern Maine, Sunday?s weather in the Northeast looks rather featureless, both from a precipitation and temperature perspective.

High pressure building in from the Upper Midwest will maintain stubborn northwest winds Sunday. That said, temperatures won?t be all that cold, relative to mid-February averages. Highs will range from the 20s in Upstate New York and northern New England to the middle 40s in the Middle Atlantic States.

Calm, tranquil weather will dominate the first part of the work week as the Midwest high shifts over the region. However, a potential winter storm lurks in the distance Wednesday into Thursday.

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[ray koziatek]

sounds like somene is snowed in and has some time on there hands keep peeing on the dish so we dont lose ya.