Overview

• Flood watches remain in place across much of Southern California and parts of the Central Valley and Sierra into early Friday, following localized flash-flood warnings in desert areas.
• Desert communities saw 1 to 2 inches of rain in a few hours Thursday, triggering flash flooding and travel hazards, with lingering storm chances in mountains and deserts overnight.
• Moisture is spreading north with showers and isolated thunderstorms expected to reach the Central Coast, Bay Area, Central Valley and Sierra late Thursday into Friday, potentially affecting the Friday morning commute.
• Hazards include brief, intense downpours, lightning and gusty, erratic winds, with debris-flow risk elevated on recent wildfire burn scars, according to the National Weather Service.
• Rainfall will be highly variable and generally modest, offering little relief for severe drought or near-term wildfire risk even as humidity stays elevated and showers taper into the weekend.