A hurricane is coming to California. Here is a timeline of their most serious effects

California is in the cross-hairs of back-to-back storms that are predicted to bring flooding, heavy snow, damaging winds, dangerous surf and the possibility of tornadoes to parts of the state. Nearly every inch of California is forecast to receive rain this week, with more areas than normal seeing snow instead of rain.

The first storms will begin Sunday in Northern California and the Central Coast, with moderate to heavy rain, while Southern California will see cloudy skies and some scattered showers. By Sunday night, freezing snow should move into the Sierra Nevada. Heavy rain is forecast for southern California on Monday.

A brief break between systems Monday night will soon lead to colder storms Tuesday into Wednesday. That will bring the coldest air in three years to California, increasing the chance of snow in the Sierra foothills, parts of the Bay Area and Interstate 5 in Grapevine.

Another system is expected to hit Thursday, but here’s what to expect from the first two storms to hit the Golden State:

Bay area

Sunday will be cooler throughout the day. Morning showers will target Marin, Sonoma, San Francisco and San Mateo counties, but showers elsewhere cannot be ruled out.

By late afternoon, steady rain should spread east through the afternoon and evening before reaching San Francisco and Oakland. Heavy rain is expected from 4 to 10 pm

Rain is possible across the Bay Area on Monday, but the Santa Cruz Mountains, South Bay and East Bay are expected to be under the heaviest swaths of between 1 and 3 inches. A slight change in the system’s position could move the rain band north toward San Francisco. Minor flooding is possible along roads and small streams and rivers.

Wind direction and speed will fluctuate on Sunday and Monday as the low pressure system moves south. In San Francisco, winds will gradually shift from southeast to southwest on Sunday. On Monday, they will start from the northeast before moving out of the northwest in the late afternoon. Wind gusts exceeded 40 miles per hour on Monday evening.

A cold front will bring renewed rain and strong winds on Tuesday as it moves north to south. Any overnight precipitation may fall as snow above 2,500 feet.

Sierra Nevada

An extended winter storm warning is in effect for the entire Sierra from 10 PM Sunday through 10 PM Wednesday. Ski resorts near the crest can pick up 5 to 7 feet of snow.

Two waves of heavy snow are seen during the focal period.

The first bursts come Monday morning into the evening, with snowfall rates reaching 1 to 2 inches per hour. The snow line will start at about 6,000 feet and drop to 5,000 feet.

In the Tahoe area, “snowfall rates will decrease Monday night into Tuesday morning, then increase again as a strong, cold front moves in Tuesday afternoon into Wednesday morning,” the National Weather Service said.

That cold second pulse could increase snowfall rates up to 3 inches per hour between Interstate 80 and Yosemite National Park. Blowing snow will be a threat with gusts up to 50 mph in Sierra communities and 100 mph in the cliffs. It will pull the rain-snow line below 2,500 feet Wednesday morning.

Colder air favors the light, fluffy snow that skiers love, but powder can fly around and visibility can drop to zero at times. Typically, 10 inches of snow melt equals 1 inch of rain, but cold winds could increase the ratio to 15:1 Tuesday night into Wednesday.

Central and South Coast

Monterey to San Diego appears in the bull’s-eye of Monday’s system.

A squall line moves from west to east throughout the day, bringing many hazards.

The heaviest rains are expected to bring about an inch of rain per hour and cause flash flooding. Wind gusts can bring down overhead branches and power lines. Flooding and brief thunderstorms are also possible, although the risk is low.

A cold front will move in Tuesday evening. It will bring snow to 3,500 or below by Wednesday morning, making for heavy dumping in the mountains, including Big Bear.

elsewhere

• Accumulating snow is forecast on the I-5 passes in Northern and Southern California. More than a foot is forecast for Black Butte Summit (Sissyau County) near Mount Shasta on Tuesday, with a few inches on early Wednesday with Grapevine.

• Dangerous seas are expected throughout the week. High surf is forecast to peak Tuesday and Wednesday, with waves up to 15 feet on the North Coast, 20 feet on the Central Coast and 10 to 15 feet on the South Coast.

This article was originally published A hurricane is coming to California. Here is a timeline of their most serious effects.