California endured a protracted, severe drought. After several atmospheric rivers and winter storms, the state is currently being battered by heavy snowfall and rain.

And the intensity is about to increase.

Back-to-back winter storms have nearly completely covered many areas of the state in snow, forcing locals to make difficult hikes to get basic necessities, stranding ardent hikers, and even closing Yosemite National Park. According to The Weather Channel, a storm system will continue to drop snow through Wednesday before Thursday’s arrival of an atmospheric river.

“A long plume of deep moisture known as an atmospheric river will be tapped into to provide [the winter storm] with additional fuel,” TheFlooding could result from a mix of snowmelt and heavy rain.

Snowmelt is anticipated to be greatest in regions with elevations under 5,000 feet, and waterways in the “western foothills of the Sierra Nevada will be most vulnerable to flooding.” Higher elevations will also experience problems because “very heavy snow” is predicted there, which could make travel challenging.