Rockport, California 7 Day Weather Forecast

Wx Forecast - Wx Discussion - Wx Aviation

328
FXUS66 KEKA 202126
AFDEKA

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
National Weather Service Eureka CA
126 PM PST Sat Dec 20 2025

.SYNOPSIS...Heavy rain likely again through Sunday, especially
south of Cape Mendocino. A short break is likely Monday before
more rounds of rain return mid week. Minor flooding and river
flooding impacts are possible starting tomorrow and again mid next
week. Strong winds and lower snow levels possible mid to late
next week.


&&

.KEY MESSAGES...

- Several rounds of heavy rain likely for the next week.

- Both small stream and main stem river flooding, trends higher
  into this weekend and early next week as more rounds of heavy
  rainfall occur over saturated grounds.

- Strong, gusty southerly winds possible Tuesday and Wednesday.

- Snow levels gradually drop by mid next week, and could be as
  low as 3500 to 4500 ft by Tuesday and Wednesday.


&&

.DISCUSSION...

Today through early Monday...The next round of rain arrives this
afternoon and radar imagery is already showing this rain moving into
southern Humboldt and Mendocino counties. The heaviest rain will
largely remain south of Cape Mendocino, but still conditions will
remain wet north of the Cape. Rain rates of over 0.25 to 0.5 inches
an hour are possible in the higher terrain for much of Sunday
morning. Total rain amounts of 3-6 inches are forecast for Mendocino
and Lake Counties. Southern Humboldt and southern Trinity could
still see 1-3 inches, with localized areas seeing up to 4 inches.
Minor flooding impacts are possible Sunday with this extended period
of heavy rainfall. See the hydrology section below for more details.
North of these areas, including coastal Humboldt and much of Del
Norte are forecast to see 1-2 inches. Southerly winds will be
breezy, with gusts of 20-30 mph possible tonight in Mendocino and
Lake Counties. Higher terrain and exposed areas could see locally
higher gusts up to 40 mph.

Monday...The main pulse of moisture moves to the south of the area
with stratiform rain transiting to lingering light showers. This will
allow some time for rivers and streams to recede before the
additional rounds of rain. Snow levels drop to 4000 to 5000 ft at
this time, so any showers may be in the form of snow at Scott
Mountain Pass along Highway 3. No more than a dusting is expected.

Monday Night through Wednesday...Yet another push of moisture is
forecast to move over the area, but uncertainty is higher on where
the heaviest rain will occur. There is a roughly 50/50 spread on
where the plume will be centered: north or south of Cape Mendocino,
but regardless rain is likely to return. NBM shows around a 60-80%
chance for over 3 inches of rain in 48 hours Tuesday-Thursday
morning for much of Mendocino, Lake, and southern Humboldt and
Trinity Counties. Chances north of these areas drop below 30%.
Chances for over 2 inches increase significantly. Forecast amounts
are currently 2-4 inches south of Cape Mendocino and 1-3 inches
north of the Cape, but this is subject to changed based on the storm
track.

Winds will also start to increase starting as early as Tuesday
afternoon, however this will be dependent on the position of the
surface low developing off the northern California coast and there
is high uncertainty. The "worst-case" scenario could produce wind
gusts in excess of 50-60 mph with locally higher gusts in channeled
terrain and higher terrain. However, the probabilities for this are
relatively low. NBM gives around a 30-40% chance for much of
Mendocino and Lake Counties to see peak gusts greater than 40 mph.
This will need to be watched as this has the potential to bring
strong, damaging winds.

Snow levels are forecast to drop Wednesday to between 3500 and 4500
ft. This is low enough to bring heavy snow to the high mountain
passes including Scott Mountain Pass at Highway 3 and the highest
passes along Highway 36. There is still some uncertainty on snow
levels and where the precipitation will be focused, so exact snow
amounts are uncertain. This cold system could support small hail
showers along the coast as well, so this will need to be watched.

Thursday through Saturday...Uncertainty remains with the storm
track late next week, but additional rain is likely through
Thursday. NBM maintains a 30-50% chance for 2 inches in 48 hours
Wednesday-early Friday from Cape Mendocino and southward. Small hail
showers and interior snow may continue through Friday if
precipitation continues. A break in precipitation may finally
arrive by Saturday. JB


&&

.AVIATION...(18z TAFs)...Doppler radar depicts showers moving
onshore across Mendocino and southern Humboldt counties late this
morning. IFR ceilings around 500 feet have been impacting UKI, with
VCSH. This is expected to improve to VFR during the next hour. While
VFR conditions are observed at the coastal terminals along the North
Coast. Otherwise, conditions are expected to deteriorate this
afternoon and evening from south to north, with rain increasing in
coverage. Expect VFR to MVFR conditions at all TAFs terminal,
dropping to IFR/LIFR conditions in periods of heavy rain this
evening and tonight. Surface winds from S-SW increasing to 5-15 kts
late tonight, with occasional higher gusty winds at UKI. Winds aloft
are expected to increase as well tonight into Sunday. Low level wind
shear (LLWS) from 35 to 45 kts around 2000 feet is expected to
develop at KUKI and KACV as a result tonight. /ZVS


&&

.MARINE...Light to gentle winds gradually shifting from north to
south this afternoon, while scattered to numerous showers are moving
across the waters as the next storm system approaches. Southeast
wind are expected to rapidly increases to strong gusts winds around
25 kts this evening into tonight, especially south of Cape Mendocino.
Wind waves will build to around 6-8 feet at 6-7 seconds across the
southern waters on Sunday morning, promoting hazardous conditions
for small crafts. Have to issued a Small Craft Advisory for the
southern waters in response the steep waves from Sunday morning
through Sunday night. Winds gradually diminish and shift to west-
southwest throughout the day on Sunday, with gentle to moderate
breezes into Monday.

Monday, another storm system is expected to move north of the area.
This will bring moderate to strong southerly winds north of Cape
Mendocino, while generally light to moderate breezes across the
southern waters. Monday night into Tuesday, winds are expected to
weaken. A larger mid-period westerly swell around 9-11 feet at 12-13
seconds arrives Monday night into Tuesday.

The next storm system likely to bring gales on Wednesday through
Thursday. There is a 75-85% chance for wind gusts exceeding 34 kts
south of Cape Mendocino on Wednesday and Thursday, while chances
increase to 70% across the northern outer waters on Thursday. A
larger mid-period south-southwest swell build across the waters on
Thursday. /ZVS


&&

.HYDROLOGY...Additional rain continuing through Sunday has the
potential to bring minor flooding impacts. The heaviest rain is
expected to be from about Cape Mendocino and southwards. This will
again pose a threat for quick rises in streams and creeks along with
rock and mudslides. Risk for rock and mudslides will again increase
and could impact travel on area highways. At this time, only the
Russian River at Hopland is forecast to exceed flood stage, and is
expected to peak Sunday afternoon. The Eel is forecast to hit
monitor stage Sunday night, but remain well below flood stage. While
no other rivers are forecast to reach flood stage, heavy rain
focused on the Eel, Navarro, and Mad, river basins could support
some or all of these basins to run higher than forecast.

The next weather system on Tuesday and Wednesday will have a higher
potential for main stem rivers to reach flood stage. The Russian
River at Hopland has a 55 percent chance of exceeding flood stage
Tuesday night. The Navarro River has a 40 percent chance. The Eel
River has a 30 percent chance of reaching flood stage on Wednesday.
These mid-week systems have a particularly high level of uncertainty
in the location and amounts of rainfall so these river levels will
need to be watched.


&&

.EKA WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
CA...
     Flood Watch through late Sunday night for CAZ108.

     Flood Watch through Monday morning for CAZ109>115.

NORTHWEST CALIFORNIA COASTAL WATERS...
     Small Craft Advisory from 6 AM to 9 PM PST Sunday for
     PZZ455-475.

&&

$$

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

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For forecast zone information
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https://www.weather.gov/images/eka/zonemap.png