The National Weather Service is warning of a precarious storm system hitting the area Wednesday and Thursday that could bring up to 2 inches of rain with wind gusts reaching between 50 and 60 mph.

Forecasters warn conditions will be ripe in the Manteca, Stockton, Lathrop, and Ripon areas for:

*Local flooding.

*Falling trees as saturated soil and high winds could wreak havoc in orchards as well as trees in urban settings.

*Difficult driving conditions.

*Blowing branches and other debris.

The forecast calls for cloudy skies after 0.25 inches of rain fell Monday.

There is a 13 percent chance of rain today.

The storm hitting Wednesday is aimed at the Bay Area as opposed to coming from the north.

As a result, winds in both the Bay Area and the Central Valley nearest the Delta could reach 50 to 60 mph gusts in Sacramento and San Joaquin counties.

An inch to 2 inches of rain is expected in the greater Manteca area while 2 to 3 inches could fall on Sacramento over the course of Wednesday and Thursday.

The storm Monday added 6 inches of snow to the Sierra crest. That accumulation is excepted to be padded another 3 feet at Sonora Pass on Highway 108 and 30 inches on Tioga Pass on Highway 120.

Snow will fall as low as 3,000 feet on Wednesday before retreating to 6,000 and 7,500 feet late Wednesday and then to 7,500 feet on Thursday.

That could result in rain that could trigger some snow melt.

Rain is expected off and on in the footballs and valley through at least Sunday with snow in  the Sierra.

To contact Dennis Wyatt, email dwyatt@mantecabulletin.com