The Weather Channel‏@weatherchannel

First flood watch just posted for parts of northern Calif. in advance of prolonged heavy rain event starting Wed: [link to www.weather.com]
... FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT FROM WEDNESDAY MORNING THROUGH LATE SATURDAY NIGHT...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN SACRAMENTO HAS ISSUED A

* FLOOD WATCH FOR PORTIONS OF NORTHERN CALIFORNIA INCLUDING THE FOLLOWING AREAS... SACRAMENTO VALLEY... WEST SLOPE NORTHERN SIERRA NEVADA... NORTHERN SIERRA FOOTHILLS... CARQUINEZ STRAIT AND DELTA... CLEAR LAKE AREA... SHASTA LAKE AREA... LASSEN PARK.

* FROM WEDNESDAY MORNING THROUGH LATE SATURDAY NIGHT

* CONFIDENCE IS HIGH IN A PROLONGED PERIOD OF PRECIPITATION... WITH THE MOST CERTAINTY OF HEAVY PRECIPITATION OVER THE SHASTA AND FEATHER RIVER DRAINAGES.

* DEBRIS FLOWS POSSIBLE... ESPECIALLY NEAR RECENT BURN SCARS IN SHASTA... BUTTE... AND PLUMAS COUNTIES.

* FLOODING EXPECTED ON SMALLER TRIBUTARY CREEKS AND STREAMS.

* WEIR OVERFLOW AND RUNOFF IN BYPASSES POSSIBLE.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A FLOOD WATCH MEANS THERE IS A POTENTIAL FOR FLOODING BASED ON CURRENT FORECASTS.

YOU SHOULD MONITOR LATER FORECASTS AND BE ALERT FOR POSSIBLE FLOOD WARNINGS. THOSE LIVING IN AREAS PRONE TO FLOODING SHOULD BE PREPARED TO TAKE ACTION SHOULD FLOODING DEVELOP.

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More Information

... PROLONGED WET WEATHER AHEAD...

.A MAJOR SHIFT IN THE WEATHER PATTERN WILL BRING WET AND WINDY WEATHER TO NORTHERN CALIFORNIA BEGINNING MIDWEEK AND LASTING THROUGH THE WEEKEND. HEAVY PRECIPITATION IS EXPECTED WITH HIGH RAINFALL RATES FIRST ON WEDNESDAY THEN AGAIN ON FRIDAY. DEBRIS FLOWS ARE POSSIBLE... ESPECIALLY NEAR AREAS BURNED IN RECENT FOREST FIRES. URBAN AND SMALL STREAM FLOODING IS LIKELY... WITH WEIR OVERFLOW AND RUNOFF THROUGH BYPASSES POSSIBLE. MAIN STEM RIVERS WILL RISE... THOUGH MAJOR FLOODING OF LARGER RIVERS IS NOT AS LIKELY DUE TO LOW LEVELS AT RESERVOIRS.