Crews work to channel mudflows in the area of the 2013 Springs Fire, in Camarillo, California December 2, 2014. The area is under mandatory evacuation as a powerful winter storm brings heavy rain to southern California burn areas in Ventura, Los Angeles,
Crews work to channel mudflows in the area of the 2013 Springs Fire, in Camarillo, California December 2, 2014. Reuters/Jonathan Alcorn

Residents in Northern California have started to load up sand bags while a clearing storm drains in anticipation of a powerful winter storm. At least three school districts in the San Francisco Bay Area have canceled classes on Thursday.

Public schools in San Francisco and Oakland, as well as some private schools in the Bay Area will close on Thursday. All Catholic Schools in San Francisco will also close. Richard A. Carranza, San Francisco Unified School District superintendent, said the school closure was immediately implemented to secure the safety of the students when trying to get to school on Thursday morning. The San Francisco Bay Area is forecast to feel the wrath of the powerful winter storm between 8:00 am and 1:00 pm on Thursday. Carranza expects the strong winds could result to power outages.

The amount of rainfall from this storm, according to AccuWeather, could breach the average rainfall record in some areas for the whole month of December. Alex Sosnowski, expert senior meteorologist, said that while this storm is much needed in drought-hit California, it could greatly trigger flooding and mudslides during the second half of this week. Described as the "strongest storm so far this season," the approaching weather disturbance also has the potential to be "biggest single rain-producer about 10 years," Sosnowski said.

"There is plenty of moisture for this storm to tap," Ken Clark, AccuWeather's Western Weather expert, said. "And this is why it will be such a soaking rain."

The National Weather Service said the storm can dump as much as eight inches of rain on coastal mountains starting late Wednesday and could go on over a 24-hour period. As such, residents are warned against localised flooding, possible downed trees as well as downed power lines. "It could have an effect on a wide range of people."

Mountains tops in the Sierra Nevada could experience wind gusts of up to 70 mph, creating possible blizzard conditions. California farmers are looking forward to this storm, after three consecutive and excruciating drought years. Times Free Press said the rain and the snow that will fall in the Sierra Nevada will fill up reservoirs that supply irrigation water during hot, dry months.

Flood warnings, high surf and wind advisories have been issued ahead of the storm:

High wind warning from 7pm Wednesday to 9am Thursday

High surf advisory until 10am Thursday

Flood watch from 7pm this evening through Thursday evening

Wind advisory until 9am Thursday

Gale warning until 9am Thursday

Storm warning until 9am Thursday