PROJECT ALERT NOTICE (CA) Minor Flooding in Southern Cal

Date: Thu, 28 Jan 2021 10:52:09 EST

Summary: Cat 3 Atmospheric River impacting California

A moderate AR is currently impacting Central and Southern California. The Cat 3 storm is picking up mid Pacific moisture and funneling it into the coast and continuing across the Coast Range into the Sierra pumping up copious amounts of snow at higher elevations.

Runoff off out of the disastrous burn scars from the fires that covered the state last year are producing mudslides in several areas. Mostly in the Santa Cruz Mountains where over 5 inches of rain has prompted evacuation notices.

Today we will have 5 crews operating out of Santa Cruz, 3 out of Sacramento and others out of our Santa Maria FO. Measurements of Record are expected in the Santa Cruz service area along the Salinas and Carmel Rivers.

The storm is forecast to move into the LA Basin this evening where precip amounts of 2-3 inches are expected along the coastal slopes and 3-4 inches at the higher elevations of the San Bernardino mountains. Winter Weather Advisory and Flash Flood Watches are posted or the Inland Empire and San Diego County through Friday.