precipitation

An atmospheric river is expected to arrive early Wednesday, bringing heavy precipitation along the coast of California through Thursday, with significant impacts to mountain areas as it moves east toward the end of the week.

For later this week, the National Weather Service predicted light to moderate precipitation Monday, as well as Wednesday and Thursday as a second storm moves in.

“There has been precipitation in the mountains in many cases, but that has been more in the form of rain than snow for much of the season.”

He said minor rainfall will be possible Friday night and again on Sunday, before a stronger storm could bring heavier precipitation by the middle of next week.

Officials typically set the water allocations based on reservoir conditions, precipitation and snowpack in the Sierra Nevada.