More than a foot of rain could fall in parts of California over next week

When it rains, it pours.

Wet weather is continuing to soak the Bay Area and the most recent weather model indicates that more than a foot of rain could fall in parts of Northern California in the next seven days.

The Santa Cruz and Santa Lucia Mountains and Sonoma County are expected to receive the highest rain totals.

The seven-day outlook from the National Weather Service shows more than 15 inches of rain possible for coastal Monterey county. Most urban spots in the four-to-six inch range. The seven-day outlook from the National Weather Service shows more than 15 inches of rain possible for coastal Monterey county. Most urban spots in the four-to-six inch range. Photo: NOAA Photo: NOAA Image 1 of / 34 Caption Close More than a foot of rain could fall in parts of California over next week 1 / 34 Back to Gallery

"An atmospheric river is hitting the West Coast, tapping into subtropical moisture bringing in a lot of precipitation," explained National Weather Service Meteorologist Bob Benjamin. "A cold front moving from the north is merging with warmer air from the Pacific and coupled together it's providing for significant amounts of rain,"

The first storm was expected to arrive Tuesday evening with a second more potent one swooping into the region over the weekend and continuing to drench Northern California through Monday.

"The first storm will be focused in the north around Sonoma County, then the system will sweep across the Bay and down into the Santa Lucia Mountains where it will culminate in its greatest evolution," Benjamin said.

Very wet weather ahead for #ca. Model output showing atmospherics rivers hitting #WestCoast A foot of rain poss next 7 days. #cawx #BayArea pic.twitter.com/iSO3IkpYE1 — NWS Bay Area (@NWSBayArea) January 3, 2017

Urban areas, including downtown San Francisco, could receive upwards of five inches through Monday. The Santa Cruz and Santa Lucia Mountains could produce 10 to 15 inches and Sonoma County up to a foot.

The Santa Cruz Mountains alone could receive more than five inches Tuesday night and the Sonoma Coast three to four.

The National Weather Service issued a flash flood watch for the Santa Cruz Mountains and the Big Sur coast, beginning Tuesday at 7 p.m.

"We're in for a very wet week," Benjamin said.