West Coast Duo of Storms Bringing Rain, Mountain Snow, and Wind

Residents of the West Coast are preparing for another onslaught of rain, wind, and mountain snow as two storm systems take aim at the region to close out the week. Here is what you can expect as the Pacific storm train chugs along.

Two Powerful Storms Targeting Different Parts of the West Coast

A duo of storms is forecast to impact a large part of the West Coast, stretching from Central California and up into Oregon, Washington, and British Columbia. Potential impacts of the two storms include torrential rain, high winds, and blizzard conditions. The winds will be strong enough to raise the risk of widespread power outages and travel disruptions.

The first storm in the expected parade of weather makers roared ashore late Wednesday, sending rain to the lower elevations and snow to the higher elevations. Motorists using interstates 80 and 90 in California and Washington experienced slippery conditions at times when traveling over the passes on Wednesday night and into early Thursday.

Details of Southern Storm System

The next two systems are forecast to arrive at about the same time Saturday. One storm will come ashore in Northern California while the other storm will push into Vancouver Island, British Columbia. Both systems are expected to be powerhouses that usher in high winds and significant precipitation. At this time, forecasters are not expecting either of the systems to evolve into a bomb cyclone.

Wind gusts will clock in between 40 and 60 mph along the coastal areas of California. These winds will also howl at these speeds across the higher terrains of Northern and Central California. The northern storm will send winds of this magnitude across portions of western Washington and British Columbia beginning Friday and lasting through Saturday.

The highest gusts are expected in the Sierra Nevada. The southern storm is likely to be the stronger of the two, translating to gusts that reach speeds between 60 and 80 mph at times. Oregon will likely escape the worst of the winds as it will be located between the two systems.

The heavy and wet nature of the snow will work with the winds to increase the threat of power outages even further. Snowfall rates are predicted to hit a few inches per hour during the peak of the activity across the northern Sierra Nevada and the Siskiyous through Saturday. Total accumulation will reach 1 to 3 feet over some of the most traveled passes.

While the snow levels will initially come in above pass level, they will begin to drop as the weekend progresses. Forecasters are also warning that blizzard conditions may come along with thunder and lightning at times. All of these elements will likely wreak havoc on the roadways in the mountainous terrain.

Warmer temperatures in the lower elevations will result in precipitation falling as heavy rain. The forecast is calling for widespread rainfall amounts of 1 to 2 inches for the coastal and inland areas of Central California. Areas that pick up the most moisture will be under the threat of mudslides and road washouts.

Even the coastal areas will see rain out of this system. Pismo Beach will wake up to a dreary morning on Saturday with about a quarter of an inch of rain in the forecast. Winds will hit speeds of 15 to 25 mph with higher gusts possible while highs will top out at the 60-degree mark. It will be a chilly night as lows slip to about 41 degrees.

It will be a similar situation heading up the coast in San Francisco. The major metropolitan area is anticipating about a half an inch of rain on Saturday. Winds will be coming from the west-southwest at 20 to 30 mph. The mercury will reach a high of about 57 degrees before falling into the low 40s overnight.

Southern California is not likely to see significant precipitation out of the active weather pattern. Any rain that does sneak down this far will be light and sporadic, particularly compared to what is happening to the north. However, forecasters are warning that the winds associated with this storm may pose challenges for fire crews working to snuff out the Franklin Fire that has been burning in Malibu since early in the week.