Areal Flood Warning 7, NWS Eureka, CA

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
National Weather Service Eureka CA
211 PM PST Tue Feb 24 2026

.SYNOPSIS...A frontal system will continue to produce moderate to
heavy rain and a threat for minor flooding through this evening.
Showers tonight are forecast to diminish on Wednesday.

&&

.KEY MESSAGES...

* Increased risk for urban and small stream flooding through this
  evening as a moderate atmospheric river brings widespread
  moderate to heavy rain.

* The Russian River at Hopland is forecast to reach or exceed
  flood stage this afternoon. The Eel River at Fernbridge is
  forecast to reach/exceed flood stage this evening.

* Wet and unsettled weather possible this weekend.

&&

.DISCUSSION...A strong atmospheric river storm impacting NW
California will continue through through late this afternoon and
early evening with moderate to heavy rainfall .

Satellite imagery depicts a slow-moving frontal boundary coupled
with subtropical moisture streaming across the area this today.
Rain amounts over the last 24 hours (12PM Monday to 12PM Tuesday)
ranged from 2 to 4 inches from Del Norte County to Northern
Mendocino County, with localized higher amounts up to 7.5 inches
over the west-southwest windward facing terrain in southwest
Humboldt, southern Trinity and northern Mendocino counties.
Southern Mendocino and Lake counties saw 0.5 to 1.5 inches.
Rainfall intensity will continue to increase for Mendocino and
Lake counties this afternoon as the steady stream of subtropical
moisture proceeds southward along the surface front. Urban and
small stream flooding has been reported across portions of
Humboldt and northern Mendocino counties. Flood Advisory remain in
effect for Del Norte, Humboldt, southern Trinity and northern
Mendocino counties.

Widespread moderate to heavy rain will likely decrease to showers
this evening. A flood watch remains in effect until 10 PM this
evening as it will take at least that long for water to drain and
rivers to recede. Additional amounts of 0.5 to 1.5 inches are
expected through early Wednesday morning across much of the
region, with the heaviest rain rates focused over the west-
southwest windward facing terrain.

Forecast from the river forecast center has all stages below
minor flood stage, with the following exceptions:

	* Russian River at Hopland: forecast to reach minor flood stage
   (15.0 feet) this afternoon.

	* Eel River at Fernbridge: forecast to reach minor flood stage
   (20.0 feet) this evening.
	* There is a low (10-20%) chance for South Fork Eel River at
   Miranda to get close or exceed minor flood stage.

Conditions will begin to settle down on Wednesday. Considerable
low level moisture will linger in the wake of the front and with
warm air aloft, expect considerable low cloud cover and fog in the
interior valleys and along the coast. Otherwise, we are looking
dry until Friday when the stalled out upper low over the central
Pacific edges closer to the coast. Timing and location of trough
passage remains uncertain. Moisture transport under 250kg/m/s is
forecast while PWATS increase. It not looking like any major
precip at this time. There is a subtle hint for some convection or
thunder as a mid level speed max noses toward the North Coast on
Saturday in advance of the 500mb cold core. Surface temperatures
should remain mild and above normal as we head into the last week
of February and the first few days of March. /ZVS&DB

&&

.AVIATION...18Z TAFs...Rainfall rates will continue transitioning
lighter, with lingering light showers Tuesday night. The downsloping
and warming southeasterly winds ended with a shift to south-
southwesterly. CIGs and VIS were able to lower to the IFR to LIFR
levels response. As winds turn lighter to calm overnight, the
chances for LIFR  conditions, including fog formation, will remain.
There is a broad 60 70% chance for continued CIGs below 1000 ft AGL
and 40 to 50% for ceilings below 500 ft AGL. Probabilities for LIFR
lessen to 30-40% after 7Z Wednesday when the front finally pushes
through. JJW

&&

.MARINE...Southerly winds and steep seas continue to subside through
the afternoon hours as a frontal system passes through. A small, mid
period southwest swell is also moving in today. Winds will turn
light to gentle overnight. There will be a brief surge of northerly
winds Wednesday through Thursday morning, mainly over the outer
waters beyond 10 nm and around Cape Mendocino. Speeds will remain
below 20 kts with short period seas of 4 to 6 ft through Thursday
morning. Northerly winds increase slightly stronger Friday
afternoon. An area of low pressure approached Sunday with likely
little impacts unless it takes a more northern track. The pressure
gradient will increase behind it early next week with strengthening
northerlies. There is currently a 45% chance for some gale strength
gusts Monday with the northerlies. JJW

&&

.HYDROLOGY...Additional moderate to heavy rainfall with a
moderately-strong atmospheric river is forecast to continue
impacting NW California through late this afternoon and early
evening. More minor flooding impacts are likely late this
afternoon mainly across Humboldt and Mendocino counties due to
additional rain falling in a short amount of time. Soils are
are about 55-70% saturated and streamflow are running higher.
Some impacts include urban and small stream flooding. In addition,
small rock and mud slides are possible in areas of steep terrain
that are already saturated. The Russian River at Hopland is still
forecast to reach minor flood stage (15.0 feet) this afternoon.
The Eel River at Fernbridge: forecast to reach minor flood stage
(20.0 feet) this evening. There is a low (10-20%) chance for South
Fork Eel River at Miranda to get close or exceed minor flood
stage. The reminder of the main stem rivers are expected to remain
below minor flood stage through this event. Our prolonged dry
spells this wet season and low flows will reduce the threat for
major or severe flooding. /ZVS

&&

.EKA WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
CA...
     Flood Watch until 10 PM PST this evening for CAZ101>115.

NORTHWEST CALIFORNIA COASTAL WATERS...
     Small Craft Advisory until 4 PM PST this afternoon for
     PZZ450-455-470-475.

&&

NOTE: The full forecast discussion is now regularly issued between
10 am/pm and 1 pm/am. Additional updates will be issued as needed.

Visit us at https://www.weather.gov/eureka

Follow us on Facebook and Twitter at:
https://www.facebook.com/NWSEureka
https://www.twitter.com/NWSEureka

For forecast zone information
see the forecast zone map online:
https://www.weather.gov/images/eka/zonemap.png

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Eureka CA
433 PM PST Tue Feb 24 2026

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0433 PM     Landslide        Forest Lake             38.82N 122.72W
02/24/2026                   Lake               CA   Public

            Landslide closing highway 175 in Cobb.

&&

JHW

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Eureka CA
618 PM PST Tue Feb 24 2026

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0617 PM     Landslide        2 WSW Salyer            40.89N 123.60W
02/24/2026                   Trinity            CA   Public

            Landslide reported covering one lane of
            Highway 299 near Salyer.

&&

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Eureka CA
735 PM PST Tue Feb 24 2026

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0735 PM     Landslide        9 WSW Branscomb         39.61N 123.78W
02/24/2026                   Mendocino          CA   Law Enforcement

            Multiple forms of debris on both lanes of
            Highway 1 north of Fort Bragg.

&&

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