A series of storms is expected to traverse in the Western United States over the next five days. There will be another powerful storm forecast for Monday and Tuesday forecasters warn. The pattern could persist until mid-January.

"When all said and done, we are looking at several more inches of rainfall through the middle of next week with moderate to high confidence of even more rain through mid-month," according to forecasters at the San Francisco Bay Area office of the National Weather Service.

"Additional rounds of heavy rainfall with ample runoff issues are likely to persist through early next week in a dangerously wet pattern with multiple atmospheric rivers," meteorologists from the National Weather Prediction Center said.

Here's a day-by-day summary of what's to be expected and when.

Thursday

A tidal river in the atmosphere continues to provide stream moisture over California this Thursday however it is expected to decrease in strength as the day moves on.

"Coastal areas of California and the Sacramento Valley are most at risk," the forecasters from the prediction center said in the early hours of on Thursday morning.

The forecasters warned that rain rates of more than 1 inch/hour could cause rapidly rising water levels in streams and rivers, and cause rock slides or mud.

The rain storms themselves are expected to be uneventful and sporadic, however wherever the rain is heavy it could cause flooding as the ground might be saturated as sponges that are soaked and isn't able to absorb more water.

These soils are saturated and, when combined with winds that could reach 50 miles per hour , which are forecast on Thursday, could make trees more prone to being blown over.

In the mountains that are higher than 5500 feet located in Northern or Central California, snow will continue to fall at a rate exceeding three inches per hour, creating unsafe conditions for travel.

Things will settle down on Thursday night, as most of the heavy rain will be over. However, the reprieve is likely to be short.

Friday

The majority part of California will see an end to the heavy rains as the river of water flows through the southwestern Oregon along with Northern California on Friday.

"Peak rainfall amounts into Northern California's coastal mountains could exceed four inches during this period into very late Friday night," forecasters from the prediction center said..

Saturday

A flurry of rain and snow at high elevations is expected to return Saturday across most of California. Southern California may escape with an additional day of dry weather.

The moisture will slowly move across California throughout the day, with the most heavy rain falling mostly on Central California and Northern California.

The first squall of rain is anticipated in the morning, followed by further rain moving inland towards Sacramento as well as in the Sacramento Valley. Later in the evening, another bout of heavy rain is anticipated further south in and around the Bay Area.

Sunday

Things look grim over the entire state. Southern California most likely gets the rain it needs.

"The storm door will remain open this weekend all the way through end of next week," forecasters from the Los Angeles office of the Weather Service said.

The areas that are most at risk for excessive rainfall are restricted in Northern California. But that will change on Monday.

Monday

Monday is likely to be another day that a powerful atmospheric river form and will bring widespread heavy rain strong southerly winds as well as massive snowfall in higher altitudes.

The plume of water will initially move over the Bay Area during the day.

It's still a bit late to be able to pinpoint the exact amount of rain that will be able to fall in this powerful storm system expected to arrive on Monday, but center forecasters have said in their extended forecast "look for multiple inches over a broad area of Northern and Central California."

"The cumulative effects of repeated rounds of moderate to heavy rain from preceding storms may lead to a higher potential for more widespread flooding with increasingly severe impacts with this storm," the Sacramento weather office warned this morning.

From Monday night to Tuesday morning, the larger plume of rain is likely to shift towards the south, over in the Los Angeles area.

"Its still early and the forecast could change," forecasters from Los Angeles cautioned.

Beyond Monday

There's not much to be excited about regarding the outlook. The storms are likely to take a short period of calm, but forecasters are predicting another strong or moderately strong atmospheric river could be headed towards this region of the West Coast next Thursday.
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