NWS California-Nevada RFC

As warmer weather takes hold of the region over the next several days, remember that area waterways are still running fast and very cold due to mountain snowmelt. For current water temperatures around interior #NorCal, check out cnrfc.noaa.gov/?product=zeroh… 🌡️ #CAwx

As we near the peak snowmelt season, California reservoirs are in great shape with many nearing capacity and above historical averages. Shasta is 95% full (117% hist. avg), Oroville 91% full (120% hist. avg), and Folsom 93% full (137% hist. avg). Data: @CA_DWR #CAwater #CAwx

The past 7 days provided quite the boost to our 2025 Water Year precip totals. The "winners"? The King Range near Cape Mendocino and Smith River basin in Del Norte County saw amounts near 15"! The Sierra did well too, from 3" to 7", which helped build more snowpack! #CAwx #NVwx

With moderate to heavy precip falling across the northern CA coast today, the Smith R at Dr Fine Br is forecast to reach its "Action" stage around Noon, while the Mad R at Arcata is expected to reach its "Action" stage around Midnight. "Turn Around, Don't Drown". #CAwx #CAwater

With another storm forecast to impact the region later Sat to Mon, rivers will respond with the Smith R at Dr Fine Br and Cosumnes R at Michigan Bar anticipated to exceed Action Stage. Ensembles also show a 61% and 57% chance of this occurring in the 5 day window. #CAwx #CAwater

Past 72 hrs have been quite active for precip with coastal areas from 1-3", Central Valley 1/2" to 1", and Sierra from 2" to 4". With relatively low snow levels, the snowpack benefited nicely from these storms too, now ~90% of avg for the state (85% of Apr 1 avg). #CAwx #NVwx

Wet weather at times this week! A low moves into Srn CA for showers & isolated t-storms into tonight. A cold system moves ovr region Wed/Thu for more widespread precip. More chances of precip, mainly ovr N Fri-Sun. River levels will rise & few pnts reaching action stg #cawx

Today’s snow survey results show a big regional disparity between the Northern, Central, and Southern Sierra Nevada snowpacks. Many storms this season missed the southern half of the state, so the statewide snowpack average masks just how below average some regions are. Because of this disparity, water managers will need to consider not just the extreme swings through the winter and spring months, but also the big differences from watershed to watershed.

Periods of precip for most of CA & NV in early March as a couple systems move through region, first one tonight-Mon & next one mid-week. Freezing levels drop to ~3500-5500 ft by Sun evening. Minor rises on rivers forecast across some coast & lower elevation basins #cawx #nvwx

Above normal temperatures (5 to 20 degrees) over the region today and tomorrow. Warm temperatures will bring increased runoff in basins with melting low elevation snow the next couple days. Cooler with a chance of precip Saturday night into Monday. #cawx #nvwx

Wet week to start February over most of the region. Highest precipitation amounts are around 13-26 inches over the Nrn Sierra and 9-20 inches over the Shasta Basin since Feb 1. More widespread precip is expected mid-late next week. #cawx #cawater #nvwx

Areas of heavier rainfall over Srn CA could produce sharp rises on rivers. The Santa Margarita River at Ysidora (27% chance) and San Diego River at Fashion Valley (11% chance) have a greater than 10% chance of action/monitor stage in the next five days. #cawx #cawater

Showers & slight chance t-storms mainly ovr Central & Srn CA & most of NV into Monday. 1-3" fcst ovr transverse range to San Diego Cty Mtns & 0.75-1.5" Srn CA coast. Freezing levels drop to 3-5 kft Sun. Lingering showers Srn CA Tues-Wed. Precip in N late Thurs-Fri #CAwx #nvwx

As we end the "1st Quarter" of the 2025 WY, total precip as % of avg shows those areas running "ahead of the game" (northern CA, especially Eel/Russian and Sacramento basins), and those that are not (central/southern CA and NV, especially southern CA and southern NV). #CAwx #NVwx

A weaker system bringing periods of light to moderate precip to Srn OR & Nrn CA & portions of Central CA & NV into early Tuesday. Generally dry later Tues-early Friday except showers possible NW CA & Srn OR Cascades Wednesday. A stronger system expected late Fri-Saturday. #cawx

More precip, mainly light to moderate, is forecast over Srn OR & Nrn CA & portions of Central CA & Nrn NV tonight into early Tuesday. A few river locations remain above monitor stage and flow at Colusa and Fremont weirs. Additional precip expected next weekend! #cawx #Nvwx

How much precip fell over CA/NV in the last 48 hrs ending at 4 am today? Highest precip amounts were 3-6" with local amounts to ~8 inches along the Nrn CA coast & Shasta Basin. Rivers rose to monitor stage at several points & a few points to Minor flood stage. #cawx #cawater

After a prolonged dry spell to start the month of December, we are finally seeing a pattern shift that will bring widespread precip back to the region starting later today, especially northern CA. Here are forecast precip amounts through next Tuesday morning. #CAwx #NVwx

@Dman1180 @UWCIMSS The 1991-2020 normal annual precipitation for Red Bluff is 23.12 inches.

@NWSCNRFC @UWCIMSS Red bluff gets way more than 21 inches of rain a year.

Fact of the Day: During the recent #AtmosphericRiver, Santa Rosa Airport saw 13.91", 41% what is normally observed in a year! Also: Ukiah: 8.51", 24% of a normal year Redding: 7.18", 21% of a normal year Red Bluff: 5.47", 24% of a normal year Image: @UWCIMSS #CAwx #CAwater

@sgrove @UWCIMSS Approximately 3.5 days.

@NWSCNRFC @UWCIMSS Wow! Over the course of how many days, roughly?