California Could Face 50-Foot Waves as Storms Slam Its Coast

A string of storms is expected to pummel California with rain, wind, snow and big waves over the next week, bringing the season’s first prolonged stretch of widespread stormy weather to the state.

The storms are arriving as the waters off the coast of California are unusually warm and El Niño continues to strengthen. The climate pattern jumbles weather around the globe, often making winters in California wetter than normal and raising sea levels enough to cause flooding.

Most of the rain will fall in Northern California.

The state has experienced some of its wettest winters during strong El Niños like the one unfolding now. The two upcoming storms are unlikely to deliver showstopping rainfall totals, but they have the potential to bring the first statewide soaking and kick up strong winds.

The heaviest rain is likely to be in the North Coast region, where up to six inches could fall over the next week. The San Francisco Bay Area could record up to two inches, and Los Angeles is likely to get less than an inch.

The first storm will bring rain up and down the state on Friday and arrive in the North Bay as early as late Thursday night. Intermittent rain and blustery winds are expected in the Bay Area most of the day on Friday.