Flash floods possible as storm hits Northern California. Here’s where risk is highest
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With the heaviest rain in months headed toward Northern California over the next few days, weather officials are warning of possible flash flooding, especially near burn scars from large wildfires.
The National Weather Service has issued several flash flood watches, most of them in place Thursday afternoon or evening through Friday morning, when an “intense band of precipitation” will pass through northern parts of the state, according to a weather service bulletin.
Advisories are in place for areas near and downstream of the burn scars for the Dixie Fire, Sheep Fire, Walker Fire and Beckwourth Fire, which cover vast territories in portions of Plumas, Shasta, Sierra and Lassen counties, including parts of Susanville, Loyalton and Portola.
In portions of Butte and Plumas counties, the weather service also warns of flash flood possibilities near last year’s North Complex burn scar. This could impact areas near Berry Creek, Feather Falls and along Highway 70.
Another flash flood watch is in place near Shasta Lake in northern Shasta County, including along Highway 299, for scars from the 2018 Carr Fire.
Yet another advisory is in place for southwestern Shasta County, Tehama County and western Colusa County due to burns from the 2020 Zogg Fire, including near Redding and Red Bluff.
Flash flooding could cause mudslides and rockfalls, knock down trees and make roadways impassable. Residents who live on or beneath hillsides in affected areas should be on high alert, the weather service says.
If flooding is imminent, the weather service will upgrade the flash flood watch to a flash flood warning. Emergency officials may issue evacuation orders in the event of severe flooding.
A heavy round of rain for the northern Sacramento Valley and foothills is expected to peak Friday morning.
After a relatively calm Saturday, major amounts of precipitation are predicted Sunday and Monday as a “bomb cyclone” system sends a front toward Northern California and the Pacific Northwest.
Any potential flash flood advisories ahead of that storm would likely be issued Friday or Saturday.
This story was originally published October 21, 2021 at 8:28 AM with the headline "Flash floods possible as storm hits Northern California. Here’s where risk is highest."
