El Niño storms could blanket central and northern California this week following a mostly February dry spell, according to meteorologist Terry Snow of the Weather Advisory Service.

“El Niño rain has a good chance to return and not be the dud it has been for the month of February,” Snow says in his Feb. 27 report.

The return to wet weather could start Thursday, March 3 with a dose of light rain in central and northern California.

This should be followed by a series of wet storms expected to start Sunday, March 6.  

“A very strong 200-plus mile per hour southern mid latitude jet stream is setting up from Hawaii to the West Coast at the latitude of San Diego to drive the storms into California with excellent dynamics,” Snow says.

The westerly flow is also expected to tap an extensive area of tropical moisture prior to reaching California. 

Several storms could reach the low deserts after March 6.