Northern California storm could bring rain, wind and possibly funnel clouds

Damon Arthur and Jessica Skropanic, Redding Record Searchlight
·2 min read
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The North State is feeling the brunt of another winter storm this week that is bringing more rain, strong winds and possible funnel clouds and flooding to Shasta County and adjoining counties.

Hard rain pummeled Redding on Monday morning, followed by strong wind gusts in the afternoon. Wind gusts could reach 60 mph in some North State places, according to the National Weather Service.

Scroll down for updates on the weather as the storm progresses.

Monday, March 13: Weather Service issues flood advisory

The National Weather Service issued a flood advisory for Shasta County, in effect until 7 p.m. Monday night.

Some locations most vulnerable to flooding include Redding, Shasta Dam, Shasta Lake, Mountain Gate and Keswick, the weather service said.

Creeks, streams and pooling water could flood in other low-lying and poor drainage areas, and there may be dangerously-fast flowing water over low-water crossings.

Motorists driving on Interstate 5, Highway 99 and other roads that dip into low-lying areas should watch for places where water is moving quickly, even if it's shallow, the weather service said. If you see even shallow flooding, "turn around. Most flood deaths occur in vehicles."

Sunday, March 12: Northern California storm could bring rain, wind and possibly funnel clouds

Another storm is expected to blow into Northern California this week, bringing strong winds and 2 to 3 inches of rain in the valley Monday through Wednesday.

The National Weather Service said the rain could bring more danger of flooding and rising creeks.

The foothills and higher elevations could see 3 to 7 inches of rain, the weather service said. The Redding area could see winds as high as 50 to 60 mph, the weather service said in an advisory sent out Sunday.

Another storm this week could bring 2 to 3 inches of rain to the Redding area through Wednesday, according to the National Weather Service.
Another storm this week could bring 2 to 3 inches of rain to the Redding area through Wednesday, according to the National Weather Service.

Mother Nature has packed other weather bad news into her bag of tricks. The storm could also bring hail and funnel clouds in some areas. Snow levels are expected to stay above 5,000 feet, however.

Recent storms have pushed the rainfall totals well above normal for this time of year. As of Sunday, nearly 17 inches of rain had fallen in Redding since Jan. 1, the weather service said.

The average for this time of year is about 13 inches.

Even with the recent rain and snow, Lake Shasta still lags behind the normal for this year. The lake was 85% of its historical average and 63% full on Sunday, according to the California Department of Water Resources.

Trinity Lake was 33% full and 47% of its historical average for this time of year, the department said.

Reporter Damon Arthur welcomes story tips at 530-338-8834, by email at damon.arthur@redding.com and on Twitter at @damonarthur_RS. Help local journalism thrive by subscribing today.

This article originally appeared on Redding Record Searchlight: North State storm could bring rain, wind and possibly funnel clouds