This week California has been hit with on and off rainstorms caused by an atmospheric river hanging over the state. Throughout the week many weather warnings have been issued, including flash flood warnings and various flood watches. The atmospheric river settled over the state around Tuesday morning. Throughout the state, rain has been pouring down. In some high elevation spots, heavy snowfall has been seen as well. Up to four feet of snow was recorded in some higher elevation areas. The storms are expected to calm down as we head into the weekend, but weather patterns often change unexpectedly. Experts advise Californians to continue to stay up to date on weather predictions and plan accordingly.
What is an atmospheric river?
An atmospheric river is essentially a river floating in the atmosphere. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration describes it as a “long, narrow region in the atmosphere – like rivers in the sky – that transport most of the water vapor outside of the tropics.” Because of its nature, as it travels overhead, the river brings heavy rain, snow, and windstorms with it. Oftentimes when there are these weather events, severe weather warnings are in place. This was no exception, as flood watches were in effect for most of the week.
Furthermore, many in the state lost power or experienced internet outages as powerlines were shut down due to the high winds. Some areas of Southern California reported winds up to 65 miles per hour, which qualify as tropical storm strength. With high winds, powerlines become more susceptible to catching fire, which is why many were down at different points in the week.
As of Thursday evening, the river has mostly left California.
There is some lingering rain expected to fall today and possibly this weekend, but the heavy storm should be in California’s rearview mirror. So far, in most of the state, it appears the weekend will warm up a bit, with average temperatures being in the 60s.
If California sees another major rainstorm, here is what you should do.
Do not drive with cruise control.
Driving on wet roads requires more focus and attention than driving on dry roads. You also have to be prepared to react differently. Because of this cruise control, while generally very nice, is not rain friendly.
Drive with a bigger gap.
Rain slicked roads brings a risk of hydroplaning if you have too brash of movements behind the wheel. In order to avoid this, drive with a bigger gap between your car and the one in front of you than you may normally have. This gives you plenty of space to react properly and slow down safely. You should also drive slower than you normally would.
