After basking in dry, mild weather for several weeks, the tide is turning for California, with an onslaught of rain, snow and wind expected over Christmas week as a series of atmospheric rivers unleash a firehose of moisture on the Golden State.
"Anyone with holiday travel plans by road and by air should keep an eye on the forecast and adjust accordingly," the National Weather Service advised in an online forecast.
How much rain? As much as 10 to 15 inches along the California coast, including the Monterey Bay to San Francisco Bay areas, said Weather Trader meteorologist Ryan Maue in an email to USA TODAY.
"The firehose is turned on and will not turn off anytime soon," said meteorologist Matt Lanza on his blog "The Eyewall."
"The train of storms, including a Pineapple Express that has focused on western Washington, will shift southward this weekend to concentrate on California through much of the week of Christmas," said Alex Sosnowski, AccuWeather senior meteorologist, in an online forecast.
