El Niño-fueled storms to bring heavy rain to West Coast

Rain and snow are on the way. A series of storms, known as an atmospheric river, are lined up starting Friday through Wednesday bringing heavy rain and a threat of flooding to the Pacific Northwest and Northern California, and beneficial rain to Southern California.

GOES-West image of U.S. west coast on March 4, 2016.

GOES-West image of U.S. west coast on March 4, 2016. (Image credit: NOAA)

The Sierra Nevada Mountains could see 1 to 3 feet of snow, while 5 to 10 inches of rain is expected for the Northern California coast. Rainfall totals in Southern California could reach 1 to 3 inches.

A very strong jet stream associated with El Niño is in place causing the temperature and precipitation impacts this coming week. El Niño, while weakening, is expected to continue for a couple more months. NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center will update its El Niño outlook March 10.

Visit NOAA's Weather Prediction Center for more information on this heavy rain event.