(KRON) – Rain is in the forecast for Northern California this week, and you have an atmospheric river to thank. The weather phenomenon is making its first visit to the Bay Area this season and bringing a lot of rain with it.
An atmospheric river is a complex weather phenomenon, but its name is quite literal: it’s like a river in the sky. The narrow, flowing column of condensed water vapor in the atmosphere is responsible for producing significant levels of rain and snow, the National Weather Service explained.
When the system moves inland and sweeps over mountains, the water vapor rises and cools to create heavy precipitation.
“Think of it as a superhighway in the sky of water vapor that is transported our way that allows a storm system to bring a more sustained and deep convection into California,” KRON4 meteorologist Kyla Grogan said.
Some strong atmospheric rivers earn another nickname, “Pineapple Express,” because the moisture originates over the tropical Pacific Ocean near Hawaii.
Most atmospheric rivers are weak systems that provide beneficial rain or snow. However, larger, more powerful atmospheric rivers, like those experienced in the Bay Area over the winter of 2022-23, can create “extreme rainfall and floods,” the National Weather Service said.
This week’s atmospheric river is expected to stall out over the Bay Area, KRON4 meteorologist John Shrable said, meaning rain will fall over several days. The first of the atmospheric river will arrive Wednesday in the North Bay, and won’t move out of the region until early next week.
Rain is in the forecast for Northern California this week, and you have an atmospheric river to thank. The weather phenomenon is making its first visit to the Bay Area this season and bringing a lot of rain with it.
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