From AccuWeather, Sacramento – A potent storm with plenty of moisture will throw heavy rain and gusty winds at the West Coast of the United States this week, with most of the focus on California from Wednesday to Thursday. As AccuWeather meteorologists have warned since mid-January, the upcoming storm will trigger an atmospheric river that can bring rain heavy enough to trigger flooding, mudslides and major travel disruptions. The storm will pull in colder air as it progresses southward, leading to deteriorating wintry travel conditions over the mountains. Much of the Sierra Nevada can get a significant wet snowfall with freezing levels starting above pass level on Wednesday, falling to pass level Thursday then dropping below pass level by Friday. The current Sierra Nevada snowpack is running well below average pace for late January. In the northern Sierra, the season-to-date tally is 65%, while in the southern Sierra, the amount is 36%. The storm from Wednesday to Friday should provide a boost. (more)