What is an Atmospheric River? Storms expected to hit Central California this evening

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- An Atmospheric River is expected to deed Central California this week.

The archetypal circular of storms is expected to statesman Wednesday nighttime into Thursday morning.

Rain totals are expected to scope 1 to 2 inches, wherever immoderate areas successful the Foothills could get 3 inches.

The rainfall is expected to statesman betwixt 7 p.m. Wednesday and midnight.

Thoe Foothill communities could person a higher hazard of flooding and rockslides. Drivers successful those areas should instrumentality other caution.

Strong upwind gusts betwixt 30 and 40 mph are possible, particularly for the North Valley Wednesday nighttime that could origin blowing particulate and reduced visibility.

Areas supra 5,000 feet implicit the High Sierra could spot betwixt 1 to 3 feet of snow, and 1 to 3 inches of snowfall accumulations arsenic debased arsenic 4,000 feet.

Both rainfall and snowfall totals are expected to treble with the 2nd circular of storms implicit the play and into adjacent week.