Rain and winds put Merced on high alert

City and county officials are bracing for Thursday’s expected large storm as it descends upon the region – and weather officials have issued a high-wind warning that will be in effect from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Gusty winds for the storm could reach up to 60 mph as the cold front moves into the area around midday, said Gary Sanger, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Hanford. The strong winds are expected to move out by late afternoon. Winds of at least 30 mph may still be present into the evening.

While brief, the wind event can be damaging, Sanger said. Residents are advised to bring down Christmas decorations and watch for roof damage.

Rain is expected to move into the area during the early hours, but the heaviest rain will occur during late afternoon and evening hours. Sanger said about 0.15 inches of rain is expected during the day. Another 0.75 inches is possible at night.

This month, there has been 0.91 inches of rain, pushing Merced’s rainfall total for the season to 2.27 inches. Normal for the season at this point is 2.51 inches. The more intense rain will change to light showers by Friday, with a slight chance of thunderstorms before 10 p.m.

That’s a good soaking, but not close to what is expected for the rest of Northern California. For instance, the storm is expected to drop 5 to 10 inches of rain along the coast north of San Francisco. The National Weather Service expects 1 to 2 feet of snow at 6,000 feet and higher in the Sierra Nevada.

Officials in the central Sierra are also worried about power being knocked out if the high winds send branches and trees crashing into transmission lines. There also have been warnings about potential mudslides in the areas burned by wildfires, including the huge Rim fire near Yosemite.

In Merced, county and city officials are preparing for the heavy rainfall by establishing locations where residents can obtain sandbags and sand to protect their homes.

Mike Conway, a public information officer for the city of Merced, asks that residents clear out gutters near their homes to avoid clogging and allow rainwater to go through without obstruction to reach drains. Homeowners are also advised to trim tree branches.

Sand has been stockpiled for Merced city and county residents to use, to help redirect stormwater and debris. Conway explained that the sand piles are self-serve. Residents should bring their own shovels and bags.

This story was originally published December 10, 2014 at 10:59 AM with the headline "Rain and winds put Merced on high alert."