Storms pose double-edged sword to California: Flooding, mudslides vs. drought relief
Additional rounds of rain and mountain snow will cause more travel problems, but will also bring more drought relief to California during much of this next week.
At least two more rounds of moisture will be flung at California from the Pacific Ocean during this week. This follows a storm with drenching rain and snow at intermediate elevations in the Sierra Nevada for a time on Monday. The first storm also unloaded heavy snow in part of western Washington.
More storms, travel problems in store this week
Each storm has the potential to renew the risk of flash flooding and mudslides, especially in urban and recent burn areas.
Enough rain accompanied by a low cloud ceiling and fog will cause airline delays across the state. Motorists should anticipate a wet and slow commute over much of the state.
Heavy snow will again fall over much of the Sierra Nevada with each storm.
While snow levels will vary with each storm, "a few more feet of snow will fall over the central and northern Sierra Nevada at elevations generally above 6,000 feet," according to AccuWeather Meteorologist Alyson Hoegg.
Snow levels will remain above the passes in Southern California.
"The second storm of the week is slated to roll in from the Pacific during Monday night and Tuesday, followed by a third storm during Wednesday night into Friday," according to AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Brett Anderson.
"Rain and mountain snow from the latter two storms will focus on central and northern California, rather than areas farther to the south," Anderson said.
Snow levels will be higher for the mid and late-week storms. All or mostly rain may fall at Donner Pass as a result from Tuesday on.
Ongoing storms to further boost drought relief
In addition to the potential for renewed flooding and mudslides, rain and snow from the storm will likely shave another layer of drought intensity off Southern California by late next week.
Storms to date have wiped out the drought in northern California and have significantly reduced the drought farther south, according to the United States Drought Monitor. Only a small part of Southern California between Santa Barbara and Los Angeles remains in extreme drought as of Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2017.
This season to date, rainfall has already had a great positive impact on many reservoirs in California, according to KQED.
The rain has filled some reservoirs to the point where water is now being released downstream.
In this Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2017, photo, Briones Reservoir is seen near capacity in Orinda, Calif. Inches of additional rain has fallen on the state since the middle of January with more on the way into early February. (AP Photo/Ben Margot)
Even if the snow and rain were to suddenly shut off for the rest of the season, there is enough snow over the high country to continue to ease the drought moving forward this year.
As of Jan. 21, the Sierra Nevada has received the biggest seasonal snowfall since the mid-1990s with more on the way.
As the snow gradually melts this spring and summer, it will be released into area lakes, reservoirs and aqueducts.
While some of the storms thus far have been heavy enough to close roads and raise the risk of avalanches, the snowfall so far this season has helped to boost skiing interest in the region.
While the storm track will again shift northward toward the middle of February, a few more storms may come calling later in the month.
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