Atmospheric river fuels torrential rain in California unleashing flash flooding, mudslides
By Alex Sosnowski, AccuWeather senior meteorologist
A storm is bringing life-threatening flash flooding, mudslides and an avalanche risk across California as it is loaded with subtropical moisture from an atmospheric river. California will be bombarded with heavy rain and fluctuating snow levels through Thursday night.
An atmospheric river is a term to used to describe a plume of tropical moisture in the atmosphere that can result in heavy rainfall or snowfall in a narrow swath. Use of the term is most common along the West Coast of the United States, but the setup can occur anywhere that persistent winds can transport moisture from the tropics to a mid-latitude location.
Two homes were destroyed and at least 50 others were evacuated after a mudslide occurred in a neighborhood in Sausalito, California, Thursday morning.
Evacuations were also ordered near the Woolsey Fire and Holy Fire burn scar areas. Later, evacuation orders were lifted for areas near the Woolsey Fire.
An atmospheric river is bringing heavy rain and mountain snow to #California. Check out the conveyor belt of clouds and moisture heading toward the West Coast in this loop from our newly operational #GOES17 (#GOESWest) satellite. Learn more: https://t.co/DhXRshmtyJ pic.twitter.com/fix8G2myrO
— NOAA Satellites (@NOAASatellites) February 13, 2019
Read the rest of the story on Accuweather
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Okay, enough already. For those of us who had forgotten what rain actually was, we have had our recollections adequately refreshed, thank you.