An 'atmospheric river' is about to hit the west coast

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Published Oct 20, 2017

An atmospheric river is scheduled to cause severe rain and possible flooding in parts of California over the next few days. But what is an "atmospheric river" anyways?
Rivers don't just exist on land. They can form in the sky, too. Instead of liquid water, they're concentrated bands of water vapor. They're invisible to the naked eye. But space satellites can observe them with radio waves. They exist worldwide, and can be as destructive as a hurricane for some areas. When it flows over mountains in California, cold, mountain air causes the water vapor to condense as rain and snow.
In 1862, an atmospheric river likely caused 43 straight days of rain. Turning Sacramento into a place more akin to Venice. Despite the destruction they can cause, atmospheric rivers are vital to the West Coast's way of life. They account for 30-50% of annual precipitation on the West Coast. Lately, fewer atmospheric rivers have reached California, which is partly responsible for the state's severe drought.
Experts aren't sure if the numbers will ever return to normal.
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An 'atmospheric river' is about to hit the west coast

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