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Back-to-back atmospheric rivers have brought substantial precipitation to the US West Coast.
A state of emergency was declared for Southern California as heavy rainfall and flooding threatened the region.
Called a ‘pineapple express’ atmospheric river, which forms in Hawaii and passes north-east through the Pacific Ocean to the Coast, the two storms brought 10.57 inches of rain to Los Angeles.
The first storm hit California on Jan. 31 and Feb. 1, and the second storm hit on Feb. 4-6. The storm hit San Francisco first, and then moved down towards Los Angeles and San Diego.
Snowfall in the Sierra Nevada mountains tripled thanks to the system.
Multiple feet of snow were in the forecast from the Sierra Nevada mountains to the Cascades, with winter weather extending well into the Rocky Mountains.
On Feb. 19, another storm slammed into California. Another atmospheric river hit Southern California in the morning, before battering the Bay Area with thunderstorms and wind in the afternoon. Southern California received up to 10 inches of rain. Hail and flooding were predicted over the Central Valley of California as well.
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Description:
An atmospheric river barrels into to Pacific Northwest, bringing heavy rainfall to the region to kick off the week.
Phenomena: Atmospheric Rivers
Satellite: GOES-18
Product: Water Vapor (band 9)
Instrument: ABI
Blizzards clobbered the Sierra Nevada Mountains region over the weekend, along with winter storm conditions and strong wind gusts extending across much of the Western US to the edge of the Rocky Mountains.
Phenomena: Winter Weather Blizzard
Product: GeoColor
The atmospheric river pummeling California delivers winter storms and blizzards to the mountains and surrounding communities, with many areas receiving multiple feet of snowfall and experiencing whiteout conditions.
Phenomena: Atmospheric Rivers Winter Weather Blizzard
Product: Visible (band 2)
Phenomena: Atmospheric Rivers Mid-latitude Cyclones
Product: Airmass (EUMETSAT)
A powerful system south of Alaska continues to drive moisture into the West Coast of the US.
A trough in the Gulf of Alaska conducts an atmospheric river to slam into the Pacific Northwest and British Columbia, bombarding the region with heavy rain and snowfall.
Phenomena: Atmospheric Rivers Winter Weather
Phenomena: Mid-latitude Cyclones
It was a lightning-filled 24 hours in California yesterday. The lightning came as part of the atmospheric river that brought bring heavy rain and snow to the region.
Phenomena: Atmospheric Rivers Thunderstorms
Product: GeoColor GLM Group Energy Density
Instrument: ABI GLM
A fire hose of moisture has set up in Southern California bringing heavy rain and flooding to the region.
Phenomena: Atmospheric Rivers Flooding
The low pressure system over the coast of the western US continues to direct moisture at California. Heavy rain and snow are expected to continue across the state.
A flooding risk threatens the California coast as showers and storms move onshore. Gravity waves can bee seen across the rugged terrain.
Product: GLM Group Energy Density Visible (band 2)
A strong upper-level low continues to direct moisture at California, bringing heavy rain and snow, and even a chance of thunderstorms to the state.
Another storm system moves ashore the US West Coast bringing heavy rain and snow.
A storm system headed for the US West Coast is packed with lightning over the Eastern Pacific Ocean.
Another atmospheric river approaches the North American West Coast as churns over the Eastern Pacific Ocean.
A low pressure system over the eastern Pacific Ocean is set to bring abundant moisture to the US West Coast over the coming days.
Spiraling swirls spawn within a trough in the north Pacific Ocean that will send a couple of storm systems to soak the US west coast this weekend and early next week.
Several storm systems brewing in the Pacific will barrage the west coast of the US from now through early next week, bringing torrential rainfall, flooding, and heavy mountain snow to the region.
A surface low sweeps across the Four Corners region, bringing rain and snow to the area.
Satellite: GOES-16
A low-pressure system traversing further into the interior US brings rain showers and storms to the Desert Southwest.
The system that impacted California makes its way over the Southwest, bringing heavy precipitation along with it.
Heavy rain and snow spreads east from California into the desert Southwest, thanks to the current atmospheric river.
An intense twelve hour period of heavy rainfall triggers flash flooding in Southern California.
Product: Infrared (band 13)
A second and stronger atmospheric river hits California with flood rains and heavy snow.
The atmospheric river currently impacting southern California gets its moisture from the tropics.
Product: Blended TPW GeoColor
California is pummeled with heavy rain due to the current atmospheric river.
The second atmospheric river in less than a week arrives in California.
Copious amounts of water vapor traverse the north Pacific as a second atmospheric river drenches the west coast over the weekend.
The next atmospheric river takes shape in the eastern Pacific Ocean.
A daytime view of the West Coast system.
Southern California and the Southwest US experience the first of a litany of showers and storms from a series of consecutive atmospheric rivers to the region.
The West Coast continues to feel the wrath of the current atmospheric river.
A powerful atmospheric river arrives in the Pacific Northwest.
Polar-orbiting satellites also caught glimpses of the large atmospheric river system as it barreled toward the US Pacific coast, capturing its swirling center in high resolution during both day and night.
Satellite: NOAA-20 NOAA-21 S-NPP
Product: Day/Night Band
Instrument: VIIRS
To start the month of February, the west coast was greeted by two atmospheric rivers. In the higher elevations, the precipitation from this event fell as heavy snow. This imagery shows the extent of the snow that accumulated across the highlands and mountains of the western US.
Phenomena: Winter Weather Snowfall
Satellite: NOAA-20 NOAA-21
The atmospheric river continues to impact the West Coast.
A jaw-dropping view of a mid-latitude cyclone approaching the US West Coast.
Heavy rain over Southern California earlier this month washed sediment out to the Pacific Ocean.
Phenomena: Flooding
Satellite: NOAA-21
Product: True Color RGB
The incredible evolution of an atmospheric river slamming the North American West Coast.
This impressive time lapse shows the full ten-day evolution of multiple atmospheric rivers battering the United States’ West Coast.
An intense band of precipitation pummeling Southern California.
See more Winter events:
Mid-February Nor’easter -
