A major atmospheric river storm is barreling toward California, raising the specter of damaging landslides and flooding across much of the Southland.

Parts of northern California could see up to a foot of rain, but Phoenix will remain dry and warmer than usual.

Downtown San Francisco was drier, but it still had a big day. The area recorded 2.53 inches on Tuesday, its highest daily rain total since 1887 when 2.22 inches fell.