A flood advisory was in effect Thursday in Stockton as a new atmospheric river storm brought widespread rain and gusty winds to the region.
The National Weather Service issued the advisory through 5 p.m. for portions of San Joaquin County, as well as parts of Placer, Amador, Calaveras, El Dorado, Nevada, Stanislaus, Tuolumne and Yuba counties.
Thunderstorms were possible across much of Northern California through Thursday night, including in Stockton. The storm — the fourth in two weeks — could bring lightning, small hail and possible funnel clouds, forecasters said.
Strong winds were also expected in the region. Since midnight, peak gusts had been reported around 40 mph in Stockton.
A wind advisory was in effect through 10 a.m. Friday and warned of gusts as strong as 50 mph. Stockton, the northern San Joaquin Valley, the Sacramento Valley, the Carquinez Straight and the Delta will likely see steady winds of 15 to 25 mph, meteorologists said.
The steady rain and the blustery winds could make driving difficult, and officials warned of minor flooding along roadways. The turn lane from Eight Mile Road onto Thornton Road was one such area covered in water early Thursday.
The extra precipitation was also wreaking havoc on the asphalt. New potholes in the Shima Parking Lot cropped up at San Joaquin Delta College, which was hosting a Pulitzer on the Road event Thursday night in partnership with Stocktonia.
Stockton city officials said residents can report local street flooding, downed trees or other objects, as well as inoperative traffic signals by calling (209) 937-8341.
Elsewhere, the California Highway Patrol reported roadway flooding near Angels Camp.
“Most flood deaths occur in vehicles,” the weather service noted in its advisory. “Be aware of your surroundings, and do not drive on flooded roads.”
This latest atmospheric river is the fourth in a series of storms that began Jan. 31. And while that may seem like a lot, the recurring weather events aren’t that unusual, said Courtney Carpenter, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service’s Sacramento office.
“During wet periods during the winter, we typically get several storms back-to-back,” Carpenter said.
And for Stockton, this storm is the strongest so far this season.
The city could get up to 2 inches of rain through Friday, weather models suggest. The three previous storms dumped a little over 2 inches, based on totals from the weather service.
“If you’re in the Stockton area, or points south of Stockton, this atmospheric river may be the wettest one so far this season,” said Scott Rowe, a senior service hydrologist and meteorologist with the NWS in Sacramento.
“You can’t rule out the chance of some thunderstorms this afternoon,” he added. “We may see lightning and some hail. We also cannot rule out the chance of a funnel cloud as well.”
By the time the three-day holiday weekend arrives, Stockton will be drying out as the storm continues to move to the east, Rowe said. Even with a small chance for precipitation Sunday, the probability is low. And the early part of next week brings a mix of sun and clouds, with highs in the low 60s and lows in the low to mid-40s.
“But there is a slight chance of some wet weather again,” Rowe warned. “Nothing nearly as strong as what we’re experiencing right now.”
Stocktonia staff writer Sammy Jimenez contributed to this report.