California storms could bring much-needed rain and relief to wildfire-weary areas
While the system progresses, a surface low will move into California by Wednesday, bringing much-needed rainfall that could help improve wildfire conditions.
Much-needed rain to provide wildfire relief in California
🔥 FIRE RELIEF: Wet weather is headed for California just in time as wildfires rage across the state, bringing much-needed relief to the fiery conditions this week.
THE TAKEAWAY
- Severe storms are set to bring heavy rain and wildfire relief to California.
- Rain is expected to persist from Wednesday through Friday.
- These storms could bring damaging wind gusts, small hail and flooding.
CALIFORNIA - As numerous wildfires burn across parts of California this weekend, a welcome shift in moisture will move across the West Coast, bringing severe storms by midweek.
This comes as a strong upper-level trough moves south along the West Coast, bringing increased moisture and widespread showers.
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As the system progresses, a surface low will move into California by Wednesday, bringing much-needed rainfall that could help improve wildfire conditions.
By Wednesday, meteorologists at the FOX Forecast Center expect most of the rain to spread across Northern and Central California, including the Bay Area and Central Valley, before stretching into southern portions of the state overnight.
The wet weather will continue Thursday, when the upper-level low shifts eastward into Nevada, Utah and Arizona as colder air moves over the warmer desert, fueling scattered showers that could develop across the Four Corners region.
CALIFORNIA, USA - APRIL 11: A view of cars commuting on San Mateo Bridge during heavy weather in San Mateo, California, United States on April 11, 2026. ( Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu / Getty Images)
The main threats from these storms include damaging wind gusts, small hail and heavy rain capable of triggering flash flooding.
Cities such as Phoenix, Flagstaff, Salt Lake City and Los Angeles are under a Level 1 out of 4 flash flood threat.
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From Wednesday through Friday, precipitation totals of around 1 to 2 inches are possible, with 0.5 to 1 inches possible in other parts of the region.
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As the storm system continues its development, it will shift northeast into the Southern and Central Rockies for the second half of the week, bringing repeated rounds of rain and thunderstorms to portions of the Intermountain West.
Stay with FOX Weather for the latest information.