Another atmospheric river to drench the Bay Area

Zoom in: The agency is forecasting precipitation totals of about 2 inches in San Francisco and high winds between 30 to 40 mph. Local gusts could reach 60 mph in some parts of the Bay Area.

• Rain totals are expected to reach 4 inches in higher elevations, while heavy snowfall is expected in mountainous regions near the Sierra Nevada.

What they're saying: The governor's Office of Emergency Services is urging residents, especially those at risk of debris flows in areas recently affected by wildfires, to have a go-bag ready, prepare in advance for potential power outages and avoid mountain travel when weather is most severe.

The big picture: California's rainy season, which roughly spans from November to early April, is marked by the prevalence of atmospheric rivers, characterized as highways of concentrated water vapor that travel across the Pacific Ocean which dump heavy snow or rain on land.

The bottom line: "We tend to get our rain from these boom and bust cycles in California from atmospheric rivers. While we're nearing the end of the rainy season, some flooding and pretty heavy rainfall is still expected in March," Kennedy said.