Martinez Under Flood Watch, Wind Advisory

MARTINEZ, CA — Another atmospheric river is expected to wash over Martinez and the Bay Area this weekend, bringing significant risks of flooding in coastal areas and in some riversheds.

Forecasters with the National Weather Service's Bay Area office expected showers throughout Friday before steadier rain arrives on Saturday. Most of the nine-county Bay Area could receive 3-4 inches of rain through Monday.

The weather service has placed the entire Bay Area and Central Coast under a flood watch from 4 a.m. Saturday through Monday afternoon. Coastal areas are also under a high surf warning through 10 a.m. Saturday.

A coastal flood advisory has been issued along the coast and around the Bays starting at 3 a.m. Saturday and continuing through 9 a.m. Monday.

"Excessive rainfall runoff combined with Saturday morning’s high tide will result in localized coastal flooding," the National Weather Service said. "The exact height and timing of these tides will vary by location. Expect sea water on roadways, parking lots, trails and sidewalks."

The North Bay and Santa Cruz and Monterey counties face the highest risk of flooding, high winds and high surf with waves of 20-25 feet during the storm, according to the weather service, as both areas are forecasted to receive between 4 and 6 inches of rain along the coast and at higher elevations.

Most of the rain Saturday will fall in a roughly six-hour window, according to forecasters, before giving way to showers Saturday night and into Sunday. A second storm system is then expected to pass over the region Sunday evening into Monday.

Wind gusts of up to 50 mph are also possible throughout most of the Bay Area during the weekend, with more intense gusts likely at higher elevations.

As a result, falling debris, downed power lines and downed trees are once again expected to threaten human life throughout the storm's duration.

Showers could continue early next week, according to forecasters, before a high-pressure system moves into the area next weekend that should bring warm and dry weather.

See the forecast for Martinez on AccuWeather.

— Bay City News Service contributed to this report.