LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — The Christmas and New Year’s holidays are forecast to be cold, windy and wet thanks to an inbound atmospheric river storm system.

The National Weather Service said the approaching atmospheric river will bring heavy rain to Oregon on Wednesday and Thursday, with lighter rain expected across northwest California during that same time period. 

Beginning on Thursday night and Friday, forecasters said heavy rain — along with gusting wind of up to 45 miles per hour — is expected in Northern California.

For the next week, the National Weather Service is reporting that rain — sometimes heavy — is expected across northwest California.

The National Weather Service’s Eureka office said Lake and Mendocino counties will see lighter rain starting on Thursday, with moderate to locally heavy rain expected this weekend and early in the new week. 

Rainfall will trend through Lake County on Saturday. Forecasters said Lake and Mendocino counties could “be in the bullseye” for a narrow band of moderate to locally heavy rain over the weekend.

Through Dec. 22, the National Weather Service is estimating the following rainfall totals for Lake County:

• Clearlake: 2.73 inches.
• Lakeport: 3.52 inches.
• Upper Lake: 4.59 inches.

The Lake County forecast shows temperatures through Wednesday with daytime highs reaching the low 60s and nighttime lows falling into the high 30s, with periods of morning fog. Winds are forecast on Friday and Saturday.

Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, and on Bluesky, @erlarson.bsky.social. Find Lake County News on the following platforms: Facebook, @LakeCoNews; X, @LakeCoNews; Threads, @lakeconews, and on Bluesky, @lakeconews.bsky.social.