PROJECT ALERT NOTICE (CA) Flooding expected for CA this week as ARs bring more rain - Day 3

Date: Thu, 09 Feb 2017 19:07:14 EST

Summary: Summary: Flooding is expected this week as multiple atmospheric rivers bring rainfall and snow to parts of California.

A series of warm storm systems are expected to bring precipitation to California over the next two weeks. Today, much of central and northern California will experience moderate to heavy rainfall, with many counties under flood warning or flash flood watch. According to the NOAA/NWS California Nevada River Forecast Center, many California rivers are expected to exceed flood (24 sites) or monitor stage (33 sites) tomorrow.

The Center for Western Weather and Water Extremes reported over 30 precipitation stations in northern California recorded between 8 and 16 inches of rain during the past 72 hours. Moderate to heavy rainfall will continue today and into tomorrow for most of central and northern California. Tomorrow, rainfall runoff and snowmelt from already saturated snowback are expected to result in major downstream flooding.

The California Water Science Center (CAWSC) has 5 crews responding to this event today from the following service areas: Eureka, CA (1); Redding, CA (1); and Ukiah, CA (2). Additional crews are prepared to deploy tomorrow, when many rivers are predicted to peak.

Record high direct-streamflow measurements were made today at site 11521500 Indian Creek near Happy Camp, CA (9,650 cfs) for a period of record going back to 1955, and on Tuesday at site 11402000 Spanish Creek above Blackhawk Creek at Keddie CA (9,420 cfs) for a period of record going back to 1933.

CAWSC managers remain in contact with water-resource managers and cooperative partners to to coordinate USGS sampling or high-water measurements. No safety issues have occurred during this series of storms and all staff have followed USGS field reporting and safety protocols. Updates will continue to be provided during the course of this event.