Atmospheric River to Blanket California with Heavy Rain, Damaging Winds, and Mountain Snow

California will continue to experience heavy rain with damaging winds and mountain snow until later this week as an atmospheric river weather event has been hovering over the state.

In addition, the weather phenomenon could also cause landslides and other debris flows, as well as flooding due to torrential rain, according to US meteorologists.

US weather authorities describe the event as a significant storm that has arrived in the Golden State, initially through its shorelines from the Pacific Ocean earlier this week.

Meanwhile, the atmospheric river or "river in the sky" in the West Coast is simultaneously accompanied by an unsettled weather in the East Coast, particularly affecting the Great Lakes and Northeast regions.

The latest weather developments in the US this early January comes after a powerful winter storm or bomb cyclone wreaked havoc in New York and other parts of the country in late December.

These winter weather events resulted in the deaths of multiple people and leading to nationwide travel disruptions, including delayed or cancelled flights.

Significant Storm Forecast

(Photo : Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
SAN FRANC, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 04: The Golden Gate Bridge is seen through a rain covered windshield on January 04, 2023 in San Francisco, California. A massive storm is hitting Northern California bringing flooding rains and damaging wind

The National Weather Service (NWS) on Wednesday, January 5, calls the said western US storm as a significant atmospheric river which moved onshore during the evening.

Heavy precipitation in the form of rain and snow, as well as powerful winds are expected to create a cascade of weather hazards in the coming hours and days.

The significant storm is mainly caused by a powerful hurricane force low pressure system located over the eastern Pacific Ocean.

The system has been set to bring a surge of moisture and damaging winds into the West Coast starting on Wednesday evening local time.

The NWS said that the greatest impacts will be in most parts of California and southern Oregon until Thursday, January 5.

Substantial rainfall amounts ranging between three to six inches may occur in a short period of time, bringing potential flooding across the region.

The US weather agency adds that the highest precipitation events are expected over the coastal areas of California, as far south as the Transverse Ranges and across the Sierra foothills.

Also Read: Unsettled Weather with a Barrage of Heavy Rain and Mountain Snow to Continue in the Western United States Next Week

What is an Atmospheric River?

NBC News stated that the atmospheric river is expected to trigger a bomb cyclone and additional flooding in California, where flood watches remain in effect for 12 million people in the northern part of the state as of Wednesday.

Some of the affected residents are reportedly still recovering from recent storms and mudslides.

One might wonder what are actually atmospheric rivers as they are frequently used in meteorological forecasts and reports.

According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), atmospheric rivers are long, narrow regions in the atmosphere, adding these rivers in the sky transport most of the water vapor beyond the tropics.

The NOAA explained that these sky rivers carry water similar to rivers on land.

However, atmospheric rivers release this water vapor either in the form of rain or snow when they make landfall.

The exact duration of these weather events is indefinite but they can last for at least several days or weeks.

Related Article: Atmospheric River May Bring a Series of Rain to Drizzle the Northeastern States