Steady coastal rains and heavy mountain snows are expected in Northern California throughout the weekend, with a high likelihood of rain in Berkeley through Sunday.
Showers began earlier this week. According to the National Weather Service, “Persistent onshore flow will keep conditions unsettled” across the Western United States through the weekend.
As the NWS put it: “Waves of energy aloft…combined with favored orographics…will help produce significant totals along the Oregon/California coastal ranges as well as the Sierra Nevada.”
Much of the precipitation inland is expected to fall as snow, causing “impressive snowfall totals over some of the higher terrain.”
Weather is expected to clear up a bit next week, partly sunny days projected through Thursday.
With California facing its driest conditions on record, the state is struggling to manage existing resources in the face of a severe drought. Even with the heavy rains expected this weekend, much more moisture is needed to mitigate the crisis facing the state.
The East Bay Municipal Utility District (EBMUD) board said at a meeting in late January that it would make a decision Feb. 11, this coming Tuesday, about what sort of water-related cutbacks the public might face as a result of the drought.
According to the Contra Costa Times, the board said the delay would provide enough time to better understand “available supplies from its primary water source, the Mokelumne River, and an emergency supply from the Sacramento River.”
East Bay MUD provides drinking water for 1.3 million customers in Alameda and Contra Costa counties, according to its website.
The forecast for Berkeley
Friday: In the afternoon, a 40% chance of rain. Cloudy, with a high near 57. South southwest wind 5 to 11 mph. Friday night: Rain. Low around 51. South southeast wind 14 to 16 mph, with gusts as high as 21 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%.
Saturday: Rain. High near 60. South southeast wind 11 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. Saturday night: Rain. Low around 52. South wind around 11 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%.
Sunday: Rain. High near 61. South southwest wind 10 to 13 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. Sunday night: Showers likely. Cloudy, with a low around 49. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Berkeleyside invites readers to share photographs of this weekend’s wet weather via email at tips@berkeleyside.com.
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