Storms Ripping Through the West Create an Atmospheric River Visible From Space

California Governor Gavin Newsom has declared a state of emergency as storms rip through the West Coast. Over the weekend, a powerful storm is making its way across the western U.S., and the West Coast discovered what an atmospheric river is firsthand.

The National Weather Services (NWS) issued weather warnings for nine states before the storm’s arrival, but no one expected the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) satellites to capture the atmospheric river.

An atmospheric river is a long, narrow region in the atmosphere that transports a large amount of moisture, according to NOAA. These rivers play a major role in global climate patterns.

Several factors cause atmospheric rivers. Wind patterns transport warm water sources mixed with warm, moist air. As air travels toward the poles, the upward motion cools the air, causing water vapor to condense into tiny water droplets or ice crystals.

The post continues to read: “The system is also bringing the threat of heavy mountain snow to parts of the Great Basin and southern Rockies. Satellite images with the post showed the storm swirling from the Mexico border to the Canadian border in Montana.

The Los Angeles Fire Department said 1,000 firefighters are fighting against 49 debris flows, 130 reports of flooding, half a dozen structure fires, and several rescues of motorists stranded in vehicles.

The winter storm is effecting nine states: California, Nevada, Arizona, Utah, New Mexico, Colorado, Idaho, Wyoming, and Montana. The storm’s impacts included a threat of hazardous conditions that could make traveling difficult.

In the last two days, downtown Los Angeles received 7.03 inches of rain, according to AccuWeather. The city just witnessed its third wettest two-day span in history, with back-to-back days shattering daily rainfall records.

Portions of Los Angeles County have accumulated more than 10 inches of rain since Sunday, with some areas reaching nearly one foot of rainfall, according to the National Weather Service. In the California mountains, heavy snowfall associated with atmospheric river-fueled storm systems has been packing the snow.

Atmospheric rivers are a hallmark across the West Coast winter. Not all of these storms are harmful. Weaker atmospheric rivers offer the much-needed rainfall and snow that regions need. In these wet winters, the rainfall fills up water reservoirs before the dry, hot summers come.

Unfortunately, this is not the first time the West Coast has faced an atmospheric river-fueled storm system. Between December 2022 and March 2023, heavy rainfall caused by multiple atmospheric rivers resulted in floods in parts of Southern California, the California Central Coast, Northern California, and Nevada.

While California has been battling atmospheric rivers for the last few years, these types of storms are not exclusive to the West Coast. They can also impact the eastern US and happen frequently in parts of Europe, Africa, Australia, and New Zealand.