Monterey >> After a short respite from inclement weather, forecasters expect rain to return to the Monterey Peninsula on Wednesday as the first of a series of storms comes on from the Pacific.

“A fairly impressive period of systems (is in the forecast), three in total,” said Bob Benjamin, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service. “The storms’ accumulations will likely be upwards of 7 inches in the Santa Cruz (Mountains) and the Santa Lucias and in the lower elevations probably in the 2- to 3-inch range in the Salinas and Monterey areas.”

While Benjamin said the storms won’t be quite as powerful as the ones that led to flooding along multiple rivers in Monterey County last week, he said they could cause flooding and other damage.

“If people are living near those areas that are prone to flooding: be prepared,” he said. “We’re not out of it yet.”

The weather service issued a wind advisory, which will be in effect from 1 p.m. Wednesday through 1 a.m. Thursday, calling for southerly wind gusts to get as high as 40-50 mph near the coast and in higher elevations. Benjamin said the first storm could result in downed trees and power lines, as well as small stream and urban flooding, as rainfall increases in areas with saturated soil.

“The first (storm) will begin with light rain beginning in the Monterey/Salinas area probably mid to late morning with a light rain,” he said. “The winds will start to pick up and then the heavier rain’s moving in after about 4 or 5 o’clock.”

Moderate to briefly heavy precipitation will fall from the evening commute into the late evening, with the first storm bringing about 1 to 1.5 inches of rain to the lower elevations and 2-3 inches of rain in the higher elevations.

There will be showers most of the day Thursday before the second storm moves in late Thursday night into early Friday morning.

“The steady rains from the second system will be beginning early Friday morning, a little before sunrise winds will be starting to pick up again,” Benjamin said. “Heavy rains will move over the area right around midmorning Friday.”

The rain and wind will subside in the afternoon Friday. The forecast calls for both the wind and rain to be weaker in the second storm, with about three-quarters of an inch of precipitation expected for Monterey.

According to Benjamin, there could be a break on Saturday as showers clear and leave partly cloudy skies. The third storm will move into the area with light rain early Sunday.

“The heaviest rain’s moving in around midmorning, and again the winds will start to pick up from the south in the 15-20 miles per hour range, maybe briefly 20 to 30 with higher gusts in the afternoon hours,” Benjamin said. “That front will go through late Sunday night and then by after midnight, there will probably be showers.”

The forecast calls for a prolonged dry period starting Monday, but the biggest chance for more flooding will likely come Sunday.

“These additional rains could also provide the impetus for some more mudslides and things like that,” Benjamin said.

Highway 1 south of Big Sur remains closed from Lucia to Ragged Point due to landslides.

Tommy Wright can be reached at 831-726-4375.