Warning Description: Special Weather Statement

Warning Date: 9:13 PM PST on January 17, 2010

WarningSum:...A Very Wet And Windy Week Ahead For Northern California...

Warning Message:A very strong jet stream is stretched across the Pacific and 
will result in wet and windy weather across northern California
this week. Periods of precipitation are expected into the beginning
of next week with possibly a brief break from the rain and snow
Friday night and most of Saturday.
Enhancement ahead of a second system overnight will continue to
bring rain and snow to the interior overnight. This second storm
will bring significant rain and wind to the valley and heavy snow
to the mountains on Monday.
Additional storms will bring more precipitation and periods of
strong and gusty winds through Friday. In addition snow levels
may lower into the upper foothills later this week. Rainfall
totals by this Saturday could reach 3 to 6 inches in the valley
with 5 to 10 inches of rain for the foothills and western
slopes...with the higher totals expected for south to southwest
facing slopes. Farther north 10 to 15 inches of rainfall may fall
over south to southwest facing slopes around the feather River
Canyon and over portions of western Shasta County. Significant
snow is likely in the mountains with several feet of snow around
the 5000 foot elevation...and 10 feet or more over the higher
Sierra Nevada by this Saturday. The combination of heavy snow and
very windy conditions will impact travel into the high country.
By the middle of this week expect small rivers and streams in the
foothills to have significant rises with swiftly moving water.
Minor flooding concerns may develop during the middle to later
part of this week for some small rivers and creeks as well as for
low lying areas.
Those with travel or outdoor plans this week should continue to
check weather.Gov/Sacramento or NOAA Weather Radio for the latest
weather information.
405 PM PST sun Jan 17 2010
...A very wet and windy week ahead for northern California...
A very strong jet stream is making its way across the Pacific and
will result in wet and windy weather across northern California.
Periods of significant precipitation are expected to occur into the
beginning of next week.
Widespread precipitation is expected to be heavy at times this
tonight and Monday with this first system. This storm will bring
significant rain to the valley and heavy snow to the mountains.
Moderate to strong southerly winds will continue this evening and
on Monday.
Additional storms will bring more precipitation and periods of
strong and gusty winds through Friday. The strongest storm this
week is expected on Wednesday. Considerable rain in the valley
and snow in the mountains along with strong and gusty winds are
expected with these storms. Snow levels around 3500 to 5000 feet
tonight. Snow levels are expected to lower later in the
week...maybe extending into the upper foothills. Rainfall totals
by next Saturday could reach 3 to 6 inches in the valley with 5 to
10 inches of rain for the foothills and western slopes...with the
higher totals expected for south to southwest facing slopes.
Farther north 10 to 15 inches of rainfall may fall over south to
southwest facing slopes around the feather River Canyon and over
portions of western Shasta County. Significant snow is likely in
the mountains with several feet of snow around the 5000 foot
elevation...and 10 feet or more over the higher Sierra Nevada by
next Saturday. The combination of heavy snow and very windy
conditions will impact travel into the high country.
By the middle of next week expect small rivers and streams in the
foothills to have significant rises with swiftly moving water. 
Minor flooding concerns may develop during the middle to latter
part of next week for some small rivers and creeks as well as for
low lying areas.
Those with travel or outdoor plans today into next week should
continue to check weather.Gov/Sacramento or NOAA Weather Radio for
the latest weather information.