Atmospheric rivers may not make headlines in the same way hurricanes do, but they can have extreme consequences. Half the rain and snow the West gets comes from atmospheric rivers, which are plumes of moisture coming in from the Pacific Ocean. The information not only improves the overall knowledge of what atmospheric rivers are capable of, but improves immediate forecasts. He says the ride might be a little less bumpy for the atmospheric rivers, but the mission is the same. “We are effectively part of the early warning system for the atmospheric rivers across the board,” Mansour explained.

Source: CNN January 09, 2023 16:17 UTC