Doug Sovern is away today. January has been a particularly dry month in Northern California, but that's about to change.

With storms sweeping through the region this weekend, the Bay Area braces for a soaking while further east in the Sierra, a downpour of the powdery kind is expected.

For a deeper look, KCBS Radio news anchor Bret Burkhart spoke with Andrew Schwartz, Director of UC Berkeley's Central Sierra Snow Laboratory.