An unseasonably cold and intense storm system along the Southwest Pacific Coast this weekend is bringing rain, flash flooding and snow to parts of California and other states, forecasters said.
The National Weather Service in San Diego issued a flash flood warning Saturday morning, alerting the public to the possibility of flooding in the southwestern part of the state.
The storm was expected to continue moving along the coast and eventually move inland.
“This storm will have an impact across the country, but right now the center of the storm is off the coast of California,” AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Bob Smerbeck said. “There will be some flooding issues, mudslides and debris. People need to be on their guard.
There was a storm Coming to the coast of California It is expected to move south and east on Saturday or Sunday, creating a flash flood risk in Southern California, said meteorologist Allison Santorelli of the Weather Prediction Center in College Park, Md.
One to two inches of rain had fallen in Los Angeles as of Saturday morning, and in Santa Barbara and Ventura counties, rainfall amounts ranged from two to four inches, Ms. Santorelli said.
Heavy snowfall could occur in the cross-cutting ranges and the Sierra Nevada, Ms. Santorelli said. Because it was a very cold system, significant snowfall was expected above 6,000 feet, with accumulations of one to three feet, and more snow above 7,500 feet.
Windy conditions are expected to continue through Saturday morning, including gusts of 50 to 60 mph above 5,000 feet, the National Weather Service's Los Angeles office said. wrote on Saturday.
Strong winds with heavy snow may create short-term blizzard conditions in mountainous areas, forecasters said. A winter storm warning remained in effect for most of the mountains until Sunday evening.
California is expected to dry out by Monday, but the storm will move toward Arizona by the weekend, Mr. Smerbeck said. Heavy rain was expected throughout western Arizona overnight Saturday and Sunday.
Arizona was down one Wind advisory Noon to 10 p.m. Saturday. A quarter of an inch of rain is expected in south-central and southwestern Arizona. Phoenix National Weather Service.
The storm was expected to bring significant rainfall to parts of Colorado, Nevada, Utah and Wyoming. AccuWeather is forecasting a foot of snow in Flagstaff, Ariz., as of Saturday.
