Northern and central sections of California are bracing for another major precipitation event, which is already underway but will markedly intensify on Thursday.  Western precipitation will linger through the weekend, with 5-day totals possibly reaching 4 to 8 inches or more in parts of northern California.  A brief surge of warmth during California’s period of heaviest precipitation could lead to melting of lower-elevation snow, further enhancing runoff potential into already swollen creeks and rivers.  Meanwhile, there is the possibility of a severe-weather outbreak on March 8-9 from the southeastern Plains into the mid-South. 

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