Atmospheric River Change
It is normal for the western US to receive most of its annual precipitation from atmospheric rivers (ARs), which are long, narrow bands of moisture in the atmosphere that extend from the tropics. But global warming is changing how ARs behave, increasing risks to communities from flooding and landslides and threatening the region's vital water resources and infrastructure.
Read MoreOct 25, 2023
California Atmospheric Rivers January 2023
Feb 13, 2019
California Floods February 2019
Feb 13, 2017
Oroville Dam Spillway Overflow February 2017
Jan 28, 2020 | The Weather Channel
Pacific Storm Parade, Atmospheric River Could Bring Flooding, Landslides, Feet of Cascades Snow in Washington, Oregon | The Weather Channel
Dec 5, 2019 | The Weather Channel
40 Years of Atmospheric River Storms Left Staggering Price Tag in Western U.S., Study Finds
Nov 19, 2019 | The Weather Channel
8 Reasons Why Rain Is a Big Deal in Southern California
Mar 9, 2021
Future Warming and Intensification of Precipitation Extremes: A “Double Whammy” Leading to Increasing Flood Risk in California
Aug 19, 2019 | Scientific Reports
Precipitation regime change in Western North America: The role of Atmospheric Rivers
Mar 21, 2018 | Geophysical Research Letters
High‐impact hydrologic events and atmospheric rivers in California: An investigation using the NCEI Storm Events Database
Earth Systems Signals
Global warming is causing widespread and rapid changes in the atmosphere, ocean, cryosphere and biosphere.
Heat Signals
The Earth is getting hotter due to human activities that release heat-trapping gases into the atmosphere.
Drought Signals
Climate change is making droughts more likely to occur, and more severe when they do.
Wildfires Signals
Climate change is increasing the size, frequency, intensity and seasonality of wildfires.
Hurricanes Signals
Warmer temperatures increase the rate of water evaporation, which feeds moisture and energy into storms.
Floods Signals
Worsening floods due to climate change are putting a growing number of communities at risk.