A strong storm was forecast for Northern California, prompting officials to issue flash flood watches for several rural areas hit by last year’s wildfires. El Nino storms lined up over the Pacific started soaking California with light rain Monday but a series of stronger systems are expected to arrive starting Tuesday, forecasters said. The National Weather Service issued a flash-flood watch for Northern California communities affected by several destructive wildfires last summer and fall. At least two more storms are expected to follow on Wednesday and Thursday, possibly bringing as much as 3 inches of rain.