1st major storm in weeks to pummel California with heavy rain, mountain snow as February begins

A major storm will hit California during the first days of February, heightening the risk of flash flooding, mudslides and dangerous travel in the mountains.

This will be the first major storm to hit the area since the middle of January.

The storm to kick off February was preceded by a quick-hitting rain event on Thursday that caused localized flooding in Southern California.

A mud flow was reported along the Pacific Crest Highway between Los Posas Road and Broad Beach Road, closing the highway on Thursday morning.

A new storm projected to arrive late Friday is expected to pack a bigger punch over a broader area.

“Moderate to heavy rain and mountain snow will return to most of the state through Saturday,” said AccuWeather Long-Range Meteorologist Max Vido.

This second storm will be stronger and will bring a heightened chance of flash flooding, mudslides and debris flows, according to AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Bob Smerbeck.

People living downhill of burn-scar areas should make sure they are up to date with the latest weather alerts for their location and heed any evacuation orders from local officials. Having an emergency go-bag at the ready can save valuable minutes in the event of an evacuation.

Download the free AccuWeather app to see when rain will arrive in your area, and be notified of imminent flooding dangers.

A general 1-3 inches of rain is expected to fall in most of the state, with locally higher amounts of up to 5 inches possible.

“Rain will fall at times across Oregon and Washington through the weekend, but California will take the main hit this time,” Vido said.

Gusty winds whipping in with the storm will make it difficult for pedestrians to keep umbrellas upright in San Francisco, Los Angeles and San Diego. Gusts can exceed 60 mph in the higher terrain, adding travel difficulties for motorists.

Localized tree and power line damage may also result, especially where the ground remains soggy from Thursday’s storm.

Motorists can anticipate further reductions in visibility and slowdowns on the roadways, including interstates 5, 10, 15, 40 and 80. Road closures are possible due to flash flooding and mudslides.

Turn around and find a safer, alternate route if a roadway is covered with high water or debris.

Fans of the Los Angeles Rams with flights to Atlanta Friday night or Saturday should expect delays. Airline passengers traveling into or out of San Francisco and San Diego can also anticipate disruptions.

Rain will reach the deserts of the Southwest, including Las Vegas and Phoenix, on Saturday and Saturday night.

Severe disruptions to travel are expected over the high terrain of the Sierra Nevada, where snowfall will be measured in feet. This includes I-80’s Donner Pass, where closures are possible during the height of the storm from Friday night through Saturday.

Drivers over the high terrain should make sure their vehicle is properly equipped to handle severe winter driving conditions, and have a winter survival kit on hand in case of emergency.

Snow levels will drop to around 4,500 feet across the mountains of Southern California as precipitation winds down late Saturday.

A mix of rain and snow or a brief change to wet snow is possible over the Grapevine at the tail end of the storm, according to AccuWeather Storm Warning Meteorologist Brian Koochel.

"Additional rounds of rain and mountain snow can continue to target Northern and central California later Saturday through Monday, further causing travel disruptions and burying the Sierra," said AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Kristina Pydynowski.

"Snow levels may lower enough for snow along I-5's Siskiyou Summit during this time, and a few thunderstorms may rumble along the Bay Area on Saturday evening," she said.

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