SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — After a hot start to the week, we are prepping for a significant storm as models give us a better idea of what to expect.
An atmospheric river will bring periods of heavy rainfall and mountain snow, gusty winds, and thunderstorms to California, mainly Friday and Saturday, in Southern California.
We could start to see some isolated light rain moving through on Thursday, later in the afternoon/early evening, but the first round of widespread rain is slated for Friday morning. Light to moderate showers are expected to push through by 12 p.m. on Friday, followed by a mid-afternoon lull.
Heavier rain is expected to impact San Diego County late Friday night and overnight into Saturday. Areas west of the mountains could experience rainfall rates of more than half an inch per hour on Friday and Saturday, potentially leading to flooding on roadways and elsewhere.
Higher rainfall rates will be a concern for burn scar areas, especially near the Palisades Fire, where some heavy pockets of excessive rain could fall Saturday morning. Pooling on the roadways will become an issue this weekend, so be cautious of hazardous travel conditions.
On Thursday and Friday, Winter Storm Warnings and Winter Weather Advisories are in effect for the Sierra Nevada mountains, with 1 to 2 feet of snowfall expected at higher elevations in the Tahoe and Mammoth areas. Mammoth Mountain postponed its Opening Day to Saturday, Nov. 15 due to the storm.
The upper level low will become a cut off low Friday and draw in more moisture from the south for the weekend. It wobbles off the coast line for a bit before pushing inland Saturday afternoon. The northern side of the storm will feature some of the heaviest showers and thunderstorms.
Rainfall amounts could range from an inch of rain to up to 3 inches of rain by the end of the weekend.
Winds start to pick up Thursday and Friday afternoon with gusty southwest winds into the weekend.
Another system will renew rain chances for Monday through Thursday of next week.
