From NOAA yesterday:
Confidence is increasing for a more notable rain system to impact the region starting on Friday into the early part of next week. Ensemble models guidance shows an upper level trough in the Pacific approaching the West Coast and extending into the western United States. This in turn will bring moisture from the tropics west of Hawaii through California. At this time, the ensemble model guidance is suggesting a low end atmospheric river. However, the guidance also shows that the moisture tap is quite dynamic, instead of being fixed to one region, the end of the plume touches the central California coast, and quickly moves south towards Baja California before another plume comes up behind it. At this time, the forecast calls for a couple periods of moderate to heavy rain from Friday into the weekend, with lingering rain through Tuesday of next week. Rainfall totals from Friday into Monday look to be highly significant, with early estimates suggesting 1.5-3" in the Bay Area and Central Coast valleys, 3-5" in the North Bay valleys, and 4-6" in the coastal ranges with localized amounts up to 8". Details should be refined through the week. In the meantime, it is a good idea to plan for wet conditions through the weekend, and stay tuned to forecast updates.
