Flash Flood Watch ~ Shasta, Tehema, and Butte Counties

Statement as of 5:54 PM PDT on October 30, 2008

... Flash Flood Watch in effect from Saturday afternoon through late Saturday night for the interior northern California burn areas for possible debris flows...

The National Weather Service in Sacramento has issued a

* Flash Flood Watch for possible debris flows for the burn areas of Shasta... Tehama and Butte counties in northern California.

* From Saturday afternoon through late Saturday night

A series of storms will move through the region through the weekend. Rainfall from these storms could pose some problems for some of the burn areas from the wildfires this past Summer. Of particular concern is the potential for debris flows and the potential to
impact some of the roadways and streams.

The greatest threat of debris flows will occur from Saturday afternoon through Saturday night when the combination of intensity and rainfall amounts are expected to be the greatest over the burn areas.

Some of burn areas of concern include but are not limited to the following locations:

In Shasta County...
the Moon fire complex which includes Platenia... Igo... Ono.
The Motion fire complex which includes Keswick in particular Bensons Road and the Whiskey Creek area along Highway 299.
Hat Creek Park area North East of Burney along Highway 299 and the lightning caused fire near Shingletown.

In eastern Tehama County...
The Smokey complex which burned adjacent to Highway 32 in the mountainous areas west of the intersection of state routes 32 and 36.

In Butte County...
The lightning caused fires in Butte County which burned adjacent to State Route 70 northeast of Lake Oroville.
Humbolt fire including portions of little Chico creek... Butte Creek... Centerville Road and other local roads within the burn area.

Residents and persons driving near the burn areas need to be alert of the potential for debris flows that could slide over adjacent roadways and impact not only travel but the safety of those
traveling on those particular roads. Should movement of any soils be observed dont wait for a warning to be issued move to higher ground immediately.

Special Weather Statement

Statement as of 4:30 PM PDT on October 30, 2008

... Cool and unsettled winter type weather to continue through early next week...

A deep trough of low pressure will remain off the West Coast... sending a series of systems across northern California through early next week. These systems will bring periods of rain... higher elevation snow... and gusty winds to the region.

The first system is already beginning to lift across the region... spreading showers and isolated thunderstorms across northern California this evening. The rain will become more widespread through the overnight hours... with gusty winds developing as well. South to southwest winds gusty up to 35 mph will be possible... especially over the highest elevation. Snow levels will stay above 8000 feet with this first system... with only light accumulations expected over the highest peaks. Showers will taper off tomorrow afternoon and evening... giving the region
a brief break in precipitation.

The next and stronger system will move into northern California on Saturday and Saturday night... bringing a better chance of a soaking rain to the region. There may be some higher rainfall rates... which may lead to some concerns for mud and debris flows along the recent burn scars.

Snow levels will fall with this system from above 8000 feet on Saturday morning to around 6500 feet by Saturday night... with moderate to heavy snow accumulations possible. Therefore... a Winter Storm Watch has been issued for elevations above 8000 feet. For more information in relation to this watch... please refer to sfowswsto (or wwus46 ksto).

All in all... precipitation totals will likely range between one and a half and two and a half inches in the valley... with three to six inches of precipitation possible in the surrounding mountains by Sunday. Another system will move across northern California on Monday... continuing the threat of rain into early next week.

Motorists should be prepared for slippery driving conditions from this afternoon through the weekend due to the combination of rainfall and the accumulation of oils on area roadways. Winter
weather conditions are expected in the mountains this weekend... and motorists should be prepared for winter type driving.

Listen to NOAA Weather Radio or your local media outlet or visit our website at http://weather.Gov/Sacramento for the latest updates on the changing weather conditions through this weekend.