New storm, strong wind on way to Redding after atmospheric river brings heavy rain, floods

More rain is on the way after a windy, atmospheric river dumped more than half a foot of rain on Redding over the weekend, bringing some flooding to parts of Shasta County.

Redding got a short break in the series of three winter storms early Monday morning, but another weaker cooler storm moved in before most people left for work.

The National Weather Service issued a flood watch for Redding and the rest of the northern Sacramento Valley until 4 a.m. Wednesday; and the Shasta County Sheriff’s Office asked people to avoid travel when possible during the storms because of flooding on Shasta County roads.

A colder storm later in the week will drop snow as low as the northern foothills by Friday, the weather service said.

All this is happening after the first and worst of the series of three storms hit Friday to Sunday, according to forecasters. Wind guests from the south, blowing up to 49 mph, pushed rain sideways and shoved pooling water over roads and into some homes.

Here’s how much rain Redding got, and what’s coming this week.

How much rain fell on Redding over the weekend

Eight inches of rain fell on parts of Redding between Friday and Sunday, said Sara Purdue, meteorologist with the National Weather Service’s Sacramento office.

Even the driest parts of the city still got deluged with 4 inches, she said.

At the same time, strong gusty winds pushed pooling water into doorways and along sidewalks and roads.

Heaviest rain fell after midnight into early Sunday morning. Parts of the city, including Redding Regional Airport, got 4.33 inches just on Sunday, Purdue said, after already getting 2 inches on Saturday.

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How much rain will Redding get this week?

The second of three waves of an atmospheric river system started moving over Redding on Monday morning, according to the weather service.

Warm moisture from the subtropics is bumping against cold Pacific Northwest air, causing these storms, Purdue said.

While last weekend’s storm was warm, the one at the beginning of the week is cooler. Redding will see more 45 mph wind gusts and another 2-3 inches of rain on Monday and Tuesday, according to Purdue.

A still colder and weaker third storm arrives Wednesday, dropping another 1.5 inches of rain on Redding, Purdue said.

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Motorists, prepare for mountain snow

The third cold storm will dump snow on the mountains and high foothills. Mountain snow levels could fall to 4,000 feet by Tuesday, as low as 1,500 feet by Wednesday, Purdue said.

Motorists driving on mountain roads, including Interstate 5 in Siskiyou County, should prepare for winter driving conditions and strong winds this week, the weather service reported.

Road conditions: Flooding prompts travel warnings this week

The sheriff’s office issued a warning on social media to avoid travel when possible, especially in low-lying places near creeks and other waterways, until the storms are over.

This week, motorists should continue to drive carefully over slick highways, and shouldn’t try to go around flood barriers. “Just a few inches of water can be enough to sweep a vehicle off the roadway. It is also extremely difficult to tell how deep the water is or if the roadway under the water has been impacted,” the sheriff’s office cautioned.

On Sunday, the storm flooded roads throughout Shasta County, from north of Redding to Cottonwood. Deputies and police reported flooding in Bella Vista, Palo Cedro, on Old 44 Drive, Boyle Road at Maddelei, and in Anderson at Fairgrounds Drive and 3rd Street and South Street and Emily Drive. Social media users reported flooding throughout Redding, including near Shasta View Drive.

Jessica Skropanic is a features reporter for the Record Searchlight/USA Today Network. She covers science, arts, social issues and news stories. Follow her on Twitter @RS_JSkropanic and on Facebook. Join Jessica in the Get Out! Nor Cal recreation Facebook group. To support and sustain this work, please subscribe today. Thank you.

This article originally appeared on Redding Record Searchlight: Redding gets 8 inches of rain, flooding after strong winter storm

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