Mapped: What a Barrage of 56 West Coast Atmospheric River Events Looks Like
The previous six months have proven to be a tale of the haves and have-nots when it comes to atmospheric river events impacting the West Coast.
Tag Archive for: Atmospheric River
How will the Northwest’s “Bomb Cyclone” Impact San Diego?
As San Diego’s wet season arrives and rain totals climb, scientific terms like “bomb cyclone” and “atmospheric river” are used to give context as to what is causing rain in the region. But, what do these terms really mean? And, will the same impact seen in other parts of the state carry over to San Diego?
The questions carry weight as the first atmospheric river of the season hits the Pacific Northwest this week and rain and snow are expected to hit Northern California through Sunday.
California’s About to Get its First Big Atmospheric River of the Season. Here’s Where it’s Going
The strongest atmospheric river to hit California in months is expected to dump rain and snow across the northern half of the state this week — also bringing high winds and possible flooding — before eventually making its way south, forecasters say.
“This is going to be the first major storm of the season,” said Dial Hoang, a National Weather Service meteorologist in Monterey. The low pressure system off the Pacific Northwest coast driving this storm will begin rapidly intensifying Tuesday — reaching the threshold of a bomb cyclone — which will drastically increase its moisture and strength.
‘Impressive’ Atmospheric River, First of the Season, Takes Aim at California
A “rather impressive system” is setting the stage for what could be California’s first atmospheric river storm of the season, the National Weather Service said Sunday. An atmospheric river carries water vapor from the tropics and, when it makes landfall, can bring a vast amount of rain and snow; in Oct. 2021, for instance, San Francisco got 750% more rainfall than an average year after a powerful atmospheric river passed through the region.
Because the movements of atmospheric river storms are difficult to predict, meteorologists are still refining the forecast. As of Sunday morning, “confidence is high” that northern parts of the North Bay “will be impacted by the strong atmospheric river beginning Wednesday, but these impacts could shift slightly southward closer to the SF Bay,” the weather service said.
California Atmospheric River Forecast: ‘Big Changes’ in Storm Path Expected
Atmospheric rivers are forecast to “drench the West Coast” this winter, according to a recent meteorological report.
Last winter, the West Coast faced a slew of atmospheric rivers that caused devastating floods and landslides. The storms also brought a deluge of rain that supplemented California lakes and rivers, helping to eliminate the state’s drought. Meteorologists are again predicting a wet winter for the West Coast, according to an AccuWeather report published Monday, and meteorologists are warning of a “big change” expected in the Golden State by midseason.
How California’s Rainy Season Is Shaping Up So Far
With its Mediterranean climate, California receives most of its annual precipitation in just a few months, with the bulk of it falling from December to February.
How Two California Reservoir Water Levels Changed After Atmospheric River
California’s two biggest reservoirs have risen by several feet since Sunday after yet another atmospheric river lashed the state with rain.
It’s Been Raining a Lot In California. Can The Influx of Water be Put to Good Use?
Atmospheric rivers recently soaked California. NPR’s Steve Inskeep talks to Karla Nemeth of the state’s Department of Water Resources, about protecting residents from floods and future water needs.
Storm Drops as Much as 4.8 Inches of Rain In San Diego County In The Start of a Week Of Messy Weather
The extraordinary plume of subtropical moisture that moved ashore Monday was continuing to drench San Diego County Tuesday morning in what could turn out to be nearly a week’s worth of messy weather.
