Stockton seems to have escaped the worst of this week’s atmospheric river storm, but the city is likely to see consistent rain through Monday and lingering showers until Thanksgiving, forecasters said.
The city and its surrounds have a strong chance of rain through the weekend, according to the National Weather Service.
The storm system, which roared ashore Tuesday and has wreaked havoc in the Pacific Northwest and northern parts of California, intensified so quickly that it was considered a “bomb cyclone.” Richard Bann, a meteorologist with the Weather Prediction Center, said.
Heavy rain prompted evacuations from communities near the Eel River in Humboldt County, which was forecast to breach its banks Friday.
Flooding closed the Pacific Coast Highway in Mendocino County, north of Point Arena near the Garcia River, and there was no estimate for when it would reopen, according to the California Department of Transportation.
A flood advisory was issued for the Sacramento metro area and the Interstate 80 corridor through Solano County.
A small mudslide was threatening a home near Healdsburg in Sonoma County. Moderate rain was falling in the community of Fitch Mountain, and officials said they were concerned the mudslide could grow and strike several homes downhill.
And the rain prompted the delay of more than 400 flights at San Francisco International Airport, where more than 50 flights were canceled Friday.
But the effects in Stockton have been milder. The area has seen less than a quarter-inch of rain since the storm began Tuesday, according to the National Weather Service office in Sacramento.
Still, more rain is coming. This afternoon and overnight, the chance for precipitation is near 100%, and heavier downpours are expected as the storm moves southeast and lingers into next week.
The atmospheric river — a long plume of moisture that forms over an ocean and flows through the sky over land — was also bringing snow to higher elevations. A winter storm warning will be in effect for elevations above 6,000 feet from 4 p.m. Friday through 4 p.m. Tuesday. Snowfall is expected to blanket the Sierra Nevada in heavy waves, dumping anywhere from 1 to 5 feet. Snow levels are anticipated to drop to 4,500 feet by Sunday.
Strong winds are also part of this storm system, with gusts as high as 50 mph in the mountain range. In Stockton, gusts as high as 22 mph are expected Friday night before diminishing into the weekend.
With persistent rain and colder temperatures accompanying the storm, Stockton opened two warming centers this week. In addition to the city’s two shelters for unhoused residents — Gospel Center Rescue Mission and St. Mary’s Community Services — overnight warming zones are open through Sunday at Arnold Rue Community Center and Stribley Community Center.
The centers are open 8 p.m. to 7 a.m. to anyone who may be without adequate heat or protection from weather conditions, the city said in a news release.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.