More rain and wind coming this week

The new year is starting with a wet and windy week.

A storm system arrived early Monday drenching a swath of Northern California. The system brought high winds and the possibility of “pockets” of power outages, according to a National Weather Service meteorologist.

Eureka- based meteorologist Jeff Tonkin said Sunday winds of 25 to 35 miles per hour with potential gusts as fast as 45 miles per hour were possible. As of Monday morning, the highest gust was clocked at 38 miles per hour.

“Gusty winds could blow around unsecured objects,” a wind advisory posted on the National Weather Service website warned. “Tree limbs could be blown down and a few power outages may result.” Additionally, the coast could see up to an inch of rain on Monday.

“We will see some localized ponding,” Tonkin said, as a result of the storm. “(There could be) a little bit of flooding if drainages get blocked.” By 4 a.m. Monday, Eureka saw 0.73 of an inch of rain. Willow Creek, in the eastern portion of the county, received 1.13 inches of rain. Scotia receive 1.1 inches and Benbow had 1.15 inches.

Tuesday and Thursday might offer peaks of sunshine and will serve as the likely calmest, clearest days in the forecast.

Wednesday and Friday will bring further rain and wind, although likely not as powerful as Monday’s storm. Tonkin said the Wednesday and Friday storms could bring up to a half-inch of rain and winds in the 20 to 30 mile per hour range.

He added the precipitation could result in snow at elevations above 4,000 feet and noted it was unlikely to affect any highways in Humboldt County. Snow will likely make an appearance in Trinity County, affecting drivers around Scott Mountain.

The marine forecast is also expected to be choppier this week. Tonkin said he expected to see some high surf advisories “throughout the week.”

“We do have some big waves coming in,” he said, noting breaking waves could be 20 to 25 feet “at different times through the week.”

For more up- to- date weather information, go to www.weather.gov/eureka.

Ruth Schneider can be reached at 707- 441- 0520.

RUTH SCHNEIDER — THE TIMES-STANDARD A bicyclist cruises down the Humboldt Bay Trail adjacent to U.S. Highway 101 between Arcata and Eureka on Sunday afternoon while it was drizzling. More rain and wind is expected this week.