Sunshine and warmth will soon no longer dominate California. A pair ofpotent storms threaten to bring rain, mountain snow, thunderstorms and gustywinds to the state after the weekend comes to an end.With high pressure centered over the central Rockies, plenty of sun will onceagain shine across Southern California on Sunday. The resultant offshore flowwill send temperatures soaring into the 80s in Los Angeles and San Diego.
Meanwhile, the tail-end of a cold front will make for a cooler and damp dayacross northern California.
Heavier rain will drench far-northwestern California on Monday as a strongerstorm slams into the Northwest. Just a rain shower or two will wet Interstate80's Donner Pass. Strong wind gusts, however, will endanger drivers ofsemi-trucks and campers.
Another Pacific storm on the heels of Monday's system will cause more ofCalifornia to turn unsettled. Rain will push southward through the stateTuesday into Thursday. It is not out of the question that the rain pours downheavy enough to trigger flash flooding and mudslides, mainly in the recentlyburned areas.
As colder air invades, snow levels will plummet from north to south. Snow willnot only bury the Sierra, but could impact motorists on the Tejon and Cajonpasses in Southern California.
Enough instability will likely also be present that small, hail-producingthunderstorms could rumble across California around the middle of nextweek.
Gusty winds will also accompany the midweek storm. The strongest winds shouldhowl at the coastline, over the mountains and across the Desert Southwest.
Story by AccuWeather.com Senior Meteorologist Kristina Pydynowski
