Lodi area has a wet week ahead as storms move in
Tuesday was wet and rainy in Lodi, and there’s more to come, thanks to a storm system moving in from the Pacific.
A storm system moving through the Central Valley was expected to bring gusting winds and more rain to the area on Wednesday. The National Weather Service issued a wind advisory for the region, including Lodi, warning of gusts up to 40 mph.
“That continues through tomorrow before rain tapers off and comes to an end tomorrow night,” said David Houk, a meteorologist with private forecasting firm Accuweather.com.
The weather is expected to dry up briefly Thursday and Friday as the current storm system moves on. But the sun will be temporary.
“It looks like a wet and wild weekend with more much-needed rain,” Houk said.
Meteorologists are expecting 1 to 3 inches of rainfall across the Central Valley on Saturday and Sunday.
“The next Pacific system will pack an abundance of moisture,” Houk said. “It’s going to send a plume of very moist air across California over the weekend.”
The system is what’s known as an atmospheric river, which often bring torrential rain. It will ride the jetstream right over the Lodi area, Houk said.
The heavy rainfall is unlikely to cause any major issues, but minor flooding could be a problem, he said.
The local area from Stockton to Sacramento has seen above average rainfall since October, Houk said. After years of drought, a wet winter could be a welcome change for local reservoirs.
Snow in the Sierras will help, too, and the week’s storm systems seem set to bring plenty.
Heavy snow is expected for the next 36 hours in the Sierra Nevada, according to the National Weather Service. Chain controls were in effect Tuesday morning on Highway 50 from Kyburz to Meyers and Interstate 80 from Colfax to the Nevada state line.
Up to 4 feet of snow could fall above the 4,500 feet elevation level — with 5 feet or more possible along the crest of the Sierra. And it doesn’t look likely to let up. “Snow levels are going to be rising headed into the weekend,” Houk said.
Anyone headed over Donner Pass on Saturday of Sunday may run into rough weather, he added.
Even with all the recent rain, the area will need a bit more before it can safely say goodbye to the years-long dry spell.
“These long-term droughts take a long time to erode,” Houk said.
Still, the higher-than-normal precipitation the area has seen over the past few months is a good sign, he said.