California Storm Arrives

California needs all the rain it can get now, because it certainly isn'tgoing to come in May. On average, May is one of the driest months on the WestCoast. The normal May rainfall in San Francisco is less than a half of an inchand in Los Angeles it is barely a quarter of an inch.The storm of concern is still currently off the coast of central California;however, it will move ashore by later today bringing rain to the northerntwo-thirds of the state. The track of this storm will lead to the mostsubstantial rain falling across central and and northern California with verylittle rain farther north into Oregon. The rain will spread into SouthernCalifornia tonight and continue into Wednesday. This is not the type of systemthat produces serious flooding and mudslides, but will bring a rainfall thatsoaks into the ground and that is exactly what we need.

There could even be a few thunderstorms, especially across the southernthird of the state as the cold front pushes through late on Tuesday night andinto Wednesday. These storms could bring brief heavy downpours and even somesmall hail.