Map shows huge storm heading for California that's set to blast state with rain, wind and flooding

A weather map from January 30 shows the potent storm making its way to California

A huge storm is heading for California, blasting the state with heavy rain, wind, and flooding, according to this weather map. The powerful storm will come for the West Coast this week, with California to take the brunt of it from Wednesday to Thursday.

The upcoming storm will spark an atmospheric river that can bring rain heavy enough to trigger flooding, mudslides, and major travel disruptions, AccuWeather meteorologists have warned since the beginning of the month. The storm will set in midweek, leading to showers and mountain snow in the Northwest on Tuesday.

The storm will “firehouse” Southern California on Thursday and leave major travel upset in its wake, impacting the majority of the state from Wednesday through to Thursday. Much of the forecast rain will fall in 24 hours.

“A large area where two to four inches of rain will fall includes much of Northern California, with locally higher amounts, generally between four and six inches being unleashed on the west and southwest-facing Coast Ranges,” Accuweather Senior Meteorologist Heather Zehr said.

“The anticipated two to four inches of rain includes the San Francisco area, with one to two inches likely farther inland around Sacramento, California.”

Rain from the storm will spread over the San Francisco Bay area and Sacramento on Wednesday and will be heaviest on Wednesday night. Heavy downpours will reach Los Angeles and San Diego on Thursday.

Regional flash flooding problems are likely, with incidents of debris flows, rockslides and washouts as well. Small streams will rise rapidly, and some of the rivers in the northern and central parts of the state may flood.

Large waves will hit the California coast from Wednesday to Saturday and may lead to coastal erosion, over-wash, and flooding. The conditions are not likely to become as severe as early January.

Meanwhile, millions of Americans will be under flood warnings this week as the atmospheric river sweeps over the west coast with heavy rainfall and high winds. The weather system, named the Pineapple Express, extends 3,000 miles and originated in Hawaii. Oregon and Washington, as well as California, have all been put on alert.

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