What is an atmospheric river? With flooding and mudslides in California, a hydrologist explains the good and bad of these storms and how they’re changing
- Written by Qian Cao, Hydrologist, Center for Western Weather and Water Extremes, University of California, San Diego
A satellite image shows a powerful atmospheric river hitting the U.S. West Coast on Jan. 31, 2024.NOAA GOESMillions of Californians were under flood alerts and warnings of excessive rainfall on Feb. 5, 2024, as a powerful atmospheric river sat over Southern California. Los Angeles saw one of its wettest days on record with over 4 inches of rain on...

