PROJECT ALERT NOTICE (CA) California experiencing a wave of AR storms—Continued, Day 4

Date: Sat, 07 Jan 2017 16:20:05 EST

Summary: Multiple atmospheric rivers are expected to bring heavy rainfall and snow to many parts of California this weekend and into next week.

Today, much of northern and central California will experience moderate rainfall, with snow accumulations at higher elevations. Precipitation is expected to continue across the region through next week, with the heaviest precipitation expected to occur on Sunday and Tuesday. This precipitation will add to the large accumulations of rain and snow that occurred from atmospheric river events that began on Wednesday 1/4/2017. Currently, streamflow at numerous sites across the State are above the 95th percentile, with many of those streams predicted to peak and exceed flood or monitor stage on Sunday or Monday.

The California Water Science Center (CAWSC) currently has 2 crews deployed from the Santa Cruz service area. These crews are making discharge measurements at USGS streamgage locations affected by runoff from wildfire burn scar areas near Big Sur/Carmel, CA.

Flood response by the California Water Science Center will be assessed continuously as these storms develop and as basins respond. The CAWSC will deploy more crews tomorrow when heavier rains will require a larger flood response. Additional crews are also planned to deploy next week as this storm continues to bring precipitation. Updates will be provided during the course of this event.

CAWSC managers are in contact with water resource managers from the Bureau of Reclamation, the Army Corps of Engineers, and the National Park Service to coordinate USGS sampling or high-water measurements with planned flood releases.