More than 20 million under flood watches on West Coast as major storm hits

More than 20 million people along the West Coast are under flood watches due to a major storm this weekend bringing heavy rain and gusty winds.

A flood watch is in effect for much of Southern California through Sunday afternoon, with areas of flash flooding possible where the heaviest rain falls.

This area is in the process of seeing a widespread 1 to 3 inches of rain from San Francisco to San Diego, with up to 6 inches possible in the foothills of Southern California.

Most of the action is happening on Saturday morning, but there will be lingering showers during the day, with pockets of intense downpours.

Meanwhile, the mountains will be seeing an abundance of snow this weekend. Winter weather alerts are in effect across the mountains in California, stretching as far south as the U.S.-Mexico border.

As the storm moves east on Sunday it will bring heavy snow to parts of the Rockies where locally 6 to 12 inches are expected -- especially across parts of Wyoming and Colorado mountains where more than a foot is possible.

High wind alerts are also in effect for much of the Southwest, with nearly the entire state of Arizona under a wind advisory. Gusts may be topping 55 mph in some locations this weekend.

Storm to travel east

As this storm continues to slide east, it will bring a severe weather threat to a large portion of country early in the week.

A widespread area -- from Texas to Ohio -- could see a severe weather outbreak Monday afternoon and evening. The area with the highest tornado threat will be from Oklahoma through Missouri.

The severe weather outbreak continues into Tuesday as the threat moves east across the Ohio and Tennessee Valleys and into the Mid-Atlantic -- stretching from Birmingham to Baltimore.