Residents in California are preparing for a powerful storm that is bringing with it triple digit winds, multiple feet of snow to Tahoe communities, and heavy rain which could lead to flooding. The National Weather Service has issued winter storm warnings and a flood watch as the atmospheric river intensifies and barrels towards the state.

The storm is set to start Thursday at 4 PM with levels of snow fluctuating significantly, starting at 6,500 feet and rising to 8,500 feet in the evening and dropping to 6,000-6,500 feet on Friday night. With the intensity of the rainfall, the Weather Prediction Center has issued a level 4 of 4 warning of excessive rainfall across an area that could impact nearly 70,000 people along the central California coast, stretching from Salinas to San Luis Obispo to Monterey and Ventura counties.

Home and business owners have been urged to clear roofs of several feet of snow before the weighted