Another sign that the winter storm door has opened is a flood watch issued for the Hollister valley by the National Weather Service, which said potentially heavy rainfall from late Tuesday night through Wednesday afternoon could create urban flooding, debris flows, and small creek flooding locally and throughout the Bay Area.

Saturated soils from recent storms make additional rainfall a potential hazard, the weather service said, noting that low-lying locations inland may experience ponding and flooding from small creeks rising and from "intense bursts of rainfall" on wet ground. Overwhelmed storm drains, always a concern in Hollister, are an issue as well. 

Public works crews were cleaning gutters and drains in Hollister Tuesday ahead of the flash flood watch, which means that conditions may develop that lead to flash flooding. The weather service called flash flooding "a very dangerous situation" and it encouraged residents to monitor forecasts and be prepared to take action should flash flood warnings be issued.

The forecast calls for a chance of showers before 10 p.m. Tuesday and then rain, heavy at times, mainly after 4 a.m. Wednesday. Showers and thunderstorms are expected after 10 a.m. Wednesday, with some storms producing heavy rainfall — possibly up to three quarters of an inch.