FOUS30 KWBC 030823
QPFERD

Excessive Rainfall Discussion
NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD
323 AM EST Sat Jan 3 2026

Day 1
Valid 12Z Sat Jan 03 2026 - 12Z Sun Jan 04 2026

...THERE IS A SLIGHT RISK OF EXCESSIVE RAINFALL IN THE UPSLOPE
REGIONS OF THE SIERRA AND THE SHASTA OF NORTHERN CALIFORNIA...

The axis of anomalous 850-700 mb moisture flux values...2 to 4+
standard deviations above the mean...along and ahead of the inland
moving frontal boundary early Saturday will impact the upslope
areas of the Sierra, northward into the Shasta of northern
California and spread through the Transverse Ranges of Southern
California. The primary change from the previous outlook was to
expand the slight risk area along all of the upslope regions of the
Sierra and expand it northward into the upslope of the northern CA
Shasta Range. HREF and RRFS neighborhood probabilities are high in
the slight risk area along the Sierra into the Shasta for 1, 2 and
3"+ totals and high along the Transverse Range for 1 and 2"+
totals day 1. In the slight risk area along the Sierra and Shasta,
hourly rainfall totals of .25-.50"+ are possible through the day 1
period and along the Transverse Range primarily during the first
half of day 1. This is resulting in HREF and RRFS probabilities of 3
hour precip exceeding 3 hour FFG values being well defined in the
upslope area of the Sierra and Shasta through day 1 and over the
Transverse Range during the fist half of day 1. Soils remain fairly
saturated in the slight risk areas from recent heavy rains at the
end of 2025 with runoff issues possible as additional heavy
rainfall occurs over these saturated soils.


Oravec

Day 2
Valid 12Z Sun Jan 04 2026 - 12Z Mon Jan 05 2026

...THERE IS A SLIGHT RISK OF EXCESSIVE RAINFALL FOR PORTIONS OF THE
NORTHERN SIERRA...

Additional shortwave energy expected to rotate through the mean
trof position along the West coast and inland across California day
2. This will support a continued wet showery pattern with
additional moderate to locally heavy precip totals along much of
the California coast Ranges and into the upslope of the Sierra. A
small slight risk area was introduced in the upslope of the northern
Sierra where model consensus is for potential of additional 1 to 2"
of rain. While rainfall rates are expected to be less than day 1,
generally .10-.25, there will be overlap with the day 1 qpf axis in
places with 48 hour totals of 3-6" in the slight risk area. Much
of the day 2 precip will occur during the first half of day 2. HREF
and RRFS 12 hour precip ending 0000 UTC Mon are high for 1 and 2"+
totals. Otherwise, no changes made to the broad marginal risk area
for much of coastal and northern California.

Oravec


Day 3
Valid 12Z Mon Jan 05 2026 - 12Z Tue Jan 06 2026

...THERE IS A MARGINAL RISK OF EXCESSIVE RAINFALL ALONG THE CENTRAL
TO NORTHERN CALIFORNIA COAST AND NORTHERN CALIFORNIA...

The mean trof position is maintained day 3 off the West coast with
model consensus for amplification of a new closed low in the base
of the mean trof off the Central to Southern CA coast. The low
level southerly flow on the east side of this developing closed low
will not be as strong as the day 1 and 2 low level south
southwesterly flow, resulting in 850-700 mb moisture flux values
only 1 to 1.5 standard deviations above the mean. PW values also
expected to be lower than day 1 and 2, with anomalies only 1 to
1.5 standard deviations above the mean. Model consensus is for
additional .50-1"+ rainfall amounts along the Central to Northern
CA coast and into the upslope of the Northern Sierra. At the
moment, these amounts warrant keeping the Excessive Rainfall
Outlook threat level at marginal for the day 3 period, with no
significant changes made to the previous outlook.

Oravec


Day 1 threat area: https://www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/qpf/94epoints.txt
Day 2 threat area: https://www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/qpf/98epoints.txt
Day 3 threat area: https://www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/qpf/99epoints.txt