A series of powerful Pacific storms will pound the Bay Area and Central Coast through Christmas week, bringing periods of heavy rain, damaging winds, flooding and dangerous surf, forecasters said Monday.

Another round of storms is moving across California this week, bringing periods of heavy rain, strong winds and flooding concerns.

The chance of flooding will increase across the Bay Area between Tuesday night and Wednesday morning as an incoming storm is expected to drop another 1 to 3.5 inches of rain across the region. More rain will follow Thursday and Friday,

The weather service late Sunday issued a high-wind watch for all areas of the Bay Area and the Central Coast that will go into effect at 7 p.m. Tuesday and run through 4 a.m. Wednesday. The weather service is anticipating that the winds will drop trees, cause widespread power outages create more difficult travel.

Rain totals will range from about 2 to 4 inches over the 3-day stretch from Wednesday to Friday with heaviest accumulations in North County.

Heavy rain and Sierra snow are expected across Northern California as an atmospheric river impacts Sacramento through Christmas week, affecting travel and rivers.

Southern California is in for a wet Christmas week, with four days of rain expected to begin Tuesday, forecasters said Sunday.

The strong wind gusts will continue through Friday afternoon and evening after the rain ends in New Jersey, forecasters say.