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Atmospheric rivers are huge plumes of moisture spread across the sky that can drop heavy rain or snow on land.
Here’s a look at the incident:
Where do atmospheric rivers come from?
Atmospheric rivers typically form in tropical regions, where warm temperatures can cause water vapor to rise into the atmosphere, according to National Oceanic and Atmospheric AdministrationThe winds above then carry that moisture to northern and southern latitudes,
They occur globally but are particularly important on the West Coast. United States of AmericaAccording to NOAA, they make up 30% to 50% of annual rainfall and are important for water supplies, but can also cause storms that create floods and landslides.
Formed by winds associated with cyclones, atmospheric rivers typically range from 250 miles to 375 miles (400 to 600 kilometers) in width and move under the influence of other weather conditions.
Many atmospheric river phenomena are weak. But powerful ones can transport extraordinary amounts of moisture. studies They have been shown to carry seven to 15 times the average amount of water they release per day Mississippi RiverAccording to the US Geological Survey.
As Earth’s atmosphere warms, they are becoming larger, wetter and more frequent, according to a 2025 study.
What happens when an atmospheric river reaches land?
According to NOAA, when moisture-laden air moves over mountain ranges like the Sierra Nevada along the California-Nevada line, water vapor rises and cools, causing heavy precipitation that falls as rain or snow.
While traditional winter storms come from the north Calm Build Sierra snowpack, atmospheric rivers warm. Snow may still fall at the highest elevations but rain usually falls over snow at lower elevations. This could lead to faster melt, runoff and flooding and reduce snowpack needed to support California’s water supply.
What is Pineapple Express?
It is the nickname of a strong atmospheric river that originates in the tropical Pacific near Hawaii.
Where does the term atmospheric river come from?
The name comes from research published in the 1990s by Massachusetts Institute of Technology scientists Yong Zhu and Reginald E. Newell. Atmospheric rivers are often referred to as ARs.