‘Bomb Cyclone’ Forecasted North Of Mother Lode

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Sonora, CA — The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Weather Prediction Center has issued a warning for excessive rainfall in several parts of Northern California and the Pacific Northwest.

The first Atmospheric River storm system this season is anticipated to bring long plumes of moisture stretching off the Pacific Ocean and into impacted areas. It has intensified so quickly, that forecasters are calling it a “bomb cyclone,” which brings an increased threat of flooding and power outages.

The heaviest impacts are projected to be north of the Mother Lode, with communities near the California and Oregon border likely to see 8-10 inches of rain over a three day period. The National Weather Service is predicting that most of the Mother Lode, like Tuolumne and Calaveras counties, will only receive about half an inch to an inch of rainfall between today and Thursday.