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Storm Is Swimming with the Fishes

Mar 5, 2010; 2:02 PM ET

With regards with the Friday/weekend storm we have talked about all week, the trend that started yesterday has continued right through today. That trend is for the storm to stay farther offshore as it drops southwest of California Friday night and Saturday, then slower to move east through southernmost California Saturday night and Sunday.

The afternoon visible satellite picture shows the low, approximately around 39N and 130W.

While there is a band of clouds just off the northern and north-central California coast, and radar is showing some returns from those clouds, that rain is probably just falling aloft as Virga. The low will track almost due south along, or near, 130 Friday night into much of Saturday. This will keep all the rain off the coast during this time for central California, leaving much of that area high and dry.

Saturday afternoon, a couple of showers could start moving ashore in Southern California coastal areas, but it will not be anywhere near a rainy day. As the low turns east tomorrow night into Sunday, a few showers and in spots a thunderstorm will move through Southern California with the greatest amount of rain in San Diego County, with the amount of showers becoming fewer up to the north. Snow levels will be higher than originally thought, too. During the day Saturday, snow levels will be around 5,500 feet, then drop to near 4,500 feet later Saturday night/Sunday morning.

Moisture rotating around the low could spread a spotty shower up into south-central California Saturday night or Sunday morning, but any activity will be light and spotty.

As for Arizona, expect most of the showers Sunday afternoon and night, with the southern deserts possibly getting a little thunder and lightning too. Snow levels will be 5,500 to 6,000 feet.

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About This Blog

Ken Clark
Ken Clark's Western U.S. weather blog tackles daily weather events with commentary from one of the most experienced and trusted Western U.S. weather experts.