Flash Flood Threat Targets Sierra Nevada, Shifts North Saturday
Flash Flood Threat Targets Sierra Nevada, Shifts North Saturday
US · Published Sep 19, 2025
Central Sierra Nevada faces a Level 2/4 Excessive Rainfall Risk due to upslope flow, increasing the threat of flash floods.
Flash flood risk extends from California's central valleys through the Great Basin into the Southwest, but is expected to lessen by evening.
Storms shift north on Saturday, bringing lighter, scattered rain to new areas; residents should stay informed.
Significant flash flood risk in central Sierra
A flash flood threat is present across multiple regions today, with the most significant risk centered over the central Sierra Nevada. The National Weather Service has issued a Level 2 out of 4 Excessive Rainfall Risk for this area, indicating a heightened potential for rapid and dangerous flooding. This risk is primarily due to upslope flow, a meteorological phenomenon where air is forced upward by terrain, leading to increased rainfall intensity.
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