LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – National Weather Service forecasters are warning of a significant change in the region’s weather patterns this holiday week, which has prompted the issuance of a flash flood and special weather statement for Lake and other fire-affected counties.

The National Weather Service in Sacramento issued a flash flood watch for the Mendocino Complex burn area in Lake County, the Camp fire area in Butte County, and the Carr, Delta and Hirz wildfires in Shasta County. It’s in effect from noon on Wednesday to noon on Friday.

Forecaster said a major change in the weather pattern is coming to Northern California this week.

That new pattern will bring with it a series of winter storms that will result in mountain snow and rain in lower elevations, and impact holiday travel.

The National Weather Service said the first storm system is anticipated to arrive late Tuesday into Wednesday, with heavy rainfall possible at times over the burn areas, which could prompt flash flooding.

A precipitation forecast through Saturday shows rainfall totals in Lake County ranging from about 2 inches in the southern portion of the county excluding the Cobb area, where about 3 to 4 inches are forecast, and to 3 to 5 inches in the northern mountains.

The rain is expected to begin in Lake County as early as Tuesday morning and continue Friday morning, with chances of showers from Friday night through Saturday night, based on the local forecast.

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