Parts of Northern California face flood watch as storm moves in. Here’s when and where

The National Weather Service issued a flood watch warning for portions of Northern California, including the Sacramento region, as a warm atmospheric river is expected to slam the area Thursday.

The flood watch will go into effect Thursday afternoon to Sunday morning for areas with elevations below 4,000 feet, the service announced Wednesday, due to excessive rain and snow melt. It includes parts of the Sacramento Valley, northeast foothills, northern San Joaquin Valley and the Carquinez Strait and Delta.

One to three inches of rain is expected in the valley, two to six inches in the foothills and up to seven inches in the mountains. The heaviest downpour is forecast from Thursday night into Friday.

The main area of concern is between 2,000 and 4,000 elevation due to last month’s higher-than-normal snowfall, The Bee previously reported.

The weather service issued a wind advisory for the region as gusts up to 50 mph are excpected Thursday to Friday afternoon in the valley.

Latest conditions

Expect low temperatures and wet weather for the rest of the week and into early next week.

Wednesday’s forecast shows rain before 10 a.m. with a high near 54 degrees and a low around 38. Rain will hit Thursday after 10 a.m. with gusts up to 26 mph during the day and up to 43 mph at night. The high is near 52 and the low is around 48.

Showers and thunderstorms are expected throughout Friday with gusts up to 37 mph. The high is near 61 and the low is around 46.

Take precautions

Be alert if you have to be on the road.

There may be roadway flooding, the service warned, and moderate rises in river, creek and stream levels. Lose objects may also blow around due to the wind, and there may be as downed trees and power outages. Keep an emergency kit nearby and have an evacuation plan, the service advises.

This story was originally published March 8, 2023 at 9:35 AM with the headline "Parts of Northern California face flood watch as storm moves in. Here’s when and where."