Prolific Pacific storms set to punch California with blockbuster rain, snow

A series of powerful storms are dumping potentially damaging amounts of rain and snow in California. By tapping into subtropical moisture like a needle tapping into a vein, the storm systems are transporting huge amounts of water vapor, which is being converted to low elevation downpours and mountain snow. While forecast uncertainties remain, it's possible that some areas will receive up to a foot or more of rain before the skies clear early next week. In addition, the higher peaks of the Cascades and Sierra Nevada Mountains stand to get blitzed with up to 10 feet of snow. The storms, one of which is currently hitting the state, leading to flash flood warnings and several feet of mountain snow, have the potential to cause widespread flooding the likes of which California has not seen since 1997.