Atmospheric river timeline: Here's what to expect for Level 3 storm through Friday

SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) -- On Thursday, we will see light rain arrive between noon to 4 p.m. Rain will likely increase its intensity after 7 p.m. Thursday. This storm will bring heavy rain at times and damaging winds.

Our Level 3 storm will spread moderate to heavy rain across the Bay Area tonight through overnight.

LIVE: Track rain in San Francisco Bay Area with Live Doppler 7

A Flood Watch has been issued for the entire Bay Area Thursday afternoon into Friday. ABC7 Meteorologist Drew Tuma says we are expecting to see areas of localized flooding on roads and smaller streams and creeks. A Wind Advisory has also been issued from 1 p.m. Thursday to 4 p.m. Friday.

Tuma says the time for the highest impacts has shifted to 7 p.m. Thursday - 4 a.m. Friday. This is the window for strongest winds and rounds of heavy rain. Because of this both Thursday and Friday are now a Level 3 on the Storm Impact Scale (previously it was just Friday).

Here is a look at the impacts of the storm.

RAINFALL IMPACTS

The highest rainfall totals will be found in the higher terrain of the North Bay and Santa Cruz Mountains where shallow mudslides are possible as soils are fairly saturated from recent rain. The threat for roadway flooding and stream flooding will be highest on Friday morning across the Bay Area.

Initial estimates for rainfall Thursday p.m. - Friday:

North Bay 2"-5"

SF & Peninsula 1"-3"

East Bay 1"-3"

South Bay 1" - 2"

Santa Cruz Mountains 2" - 5"

WIND IMPACTS

We will see damaging winds Thursday night into Friday morning with gusts of 30-50 mph+. This will bring trees down and will likely lead to isolated power outages.

SIERRA SNOW/RAIN

Heavy snow above 6,500 ft with 2-6 feet of snow in areas that remain cold enough for it. Areas below 6,500 ft will see all rain with some areas exceeding 6"+ of rainfall.

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