LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – A big winter storm that forecasters have warned would hit the region arrived early Friday morning with winds and heavy rain.
The National Weather Service reported that the storm is expected to continue through the weekend.
The large rainfall totals that forecasters are predicting is attributed to an “atmospheric river” – a plume of concentrated moisture between 250 and 400 miles wide.
Lake County is expected to get around 4 to 5 inches of rain in the lower elevations through Sunday, with higher elevations in the north of the county forecast to get 10 inches or more, based on the National Weather Service forecast.
The storm also is expected to bring winds averaging between 20 and 30 miles per hour – with higher gusts possible – to Lake County.
Meteorologist Scott Mace – who is not with the National Weather Service – told Lake County News that the heavy rain forecast for Northern California this weekend is from two waves of moisture and energy moving in from the Pacific Ocean.
“The first wave is the most intense with the heaviest rain and strongest wind. It's moving into the area early Friday morning with heavy rain through the day,” he said. “Rain will be lighter on Saturday with a few bursts of heavy rain until the evening.”
The second wave, Mace said, is forecast for Sunday morning and looks weaker, but still impressive.
He said Friday will pose the greatest potential for flooding and strong winds of up to 40 miles per hour could cause damage to trees and structures as well.
Isolated thunderstorms also are possible throughout the weekend, which Mace said could produce locally heavier rain and stronger winds.
Lake County News will post updates on the storm throughout the day.
Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.
Storm arrives early Friday; large rainfall totals anticipated
- Elizabeth Larson
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