Two systems will bring rain and snow to Northern California over the next few days, one coming right after the other.

In less than 24 hours, California experienced nearly a dozen weather and natural events - heavy rain, flooding, lightning, snow, high winds, landslides, fog, blowing dust, wildfires, a rainbow and an earthquake. And this came just one day after the aurora illuminated skies across the state and much of the nation.

A series of storms is bringing soaking rain, gusty winds and mountain snowfall to California through this weekend into early in the week ahead. The heaviest rainfall is expected across Southern California,

As much of Northern California remains damp Friday after the bulk of a Thursday storm moves out, another weather system will arrive late this weekend, bringing with it more widespread rain and light snow.

Rain in the valley should begin tapering off into scattered showers by Thursday afternoon. This is when the focus of this storm shifts to snowfall in the Sierra by the evening. A Winter Storm Watch is in effect for elevations above 5,000 feet in the Sierra Nevada from 1 a.m. Thursday through 4 a.m. Friday.

A strong atmospheric river moving inland Wednesday night through Friday will bring heavy rain and wind to Stockton as well as snow in the Sierra.

An ongoing winter storm has brought heavy snowfall to Northern California's Cascade Range, prompting the closure of the main highway through Lassen Volcanic National Park, officials announced.

Besides the slopes, resorts around California will offer tubing, ice skating, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing and more.