DOWNIEVILLE — After receiving nearly 5 inches of rainfall here this past Tuesday, another series of wet storms is expected to begin early today and to continue, with a possibly lengthy break on New Years Eve, well into next week. The storm slated to arrive today and last through Saturday is predicted to be not as strong as the one hitting the area on Tuesday. But, the air mass carrying the precipitation on Saturday will be colder and is predicted to bring snowfalls of 3"-6" above 4500' and 8"-12" above 6,500', well below the 7,000'-8,000' range seen earlier in the week. After the brief lull in the wet pattern on Sunday, unsettled and damp, cold air is forseen to again bring bouts of snow to lower levels of the northern Sierra Nevada. If, on the other hand, the storms come in from a more southerly source than predicted the chances of floods from snow melt will rise. No matter what the nature of the upcoming weather proves to be, there is no doubt travelers will face slippery roads, reduced visibilities, and the possibility of delays due to chain controls or rock and mudslides covering the highways. So, if you must travel, do it slowly and with care